This article verses on educational evaluation; both in the evaluation of educational systems (or subsystems), and of institutions and/or programs. Conceptual and methodological contributions which review traditional discussions on the subject are also presented. Some concepts developed here are: educational evaluation, referee/referent, internal/external evaluation, qualitative/quantitative.

Questions asked in regards to the objective of said evaluations are also addressed, forwarding a cross examination both because of their conception and methodology, as for their effects. Stressing that methodological decisions are not only guided by a technical rational but that every proposal comes also from a theoretical position, involving power struggles and producing political statements with political effects.

Finally, the article includes several guidelines and criteria to serve as a bearing during evaluation processes. These do not mean to standardize the evaluation in a given set of formats.

Evaluation, programs and projects, educational systems, educational policy, evaluation methodology.