THE STATE, EDUCATIONAL POLICIES AND AN OBSESSION WITH ASSESSMENT

Abstract

The growing central role of assessment cannot be understood separate of contemporary public and educational policies, or, more specifically, isolated from the role and redefinition of the State in the context of globalization. Initially, prompted by the emergence of neo-conservative and neo-liberal governments, twenty five years ago, assessment became a single-focused obsession, whether due to the fact that it continues to maintain its presence, in a way that is relatively indifferent to the nature of governments and other political-party orientations, or due to the fact that it continues to contribute to maximizing the functions of control and legitimization, rather than supporting democratic mechanisms of accountability and responsibility that are more in keeping with the promotion of social and educational justice.