Saeb - National System for Evaluation of Basic Education

The continuous improvement of the Basic Education in Brazil is one of the main priorities established by the Ministry of Education (MEC). Based on this priority the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research (Inep) started in 1990 one of greatest efforts towards the collection, processing and data analysis of the Fundamental and Secondary Education in the country through Saeb.

Saeb is the national system for evaluation of the Basic Education in Brazil based on a rigorous sample methodology and carried on a bi-annual basis since 1993. Saeb evaluates students from the last year of each cycle on both Fundamental and Secondary levels. The levels evaluated are the 4th and 8th year of Fundamental Education and the 3rd year of Secondary Education.

In 2001, about  287.719 students, 11.737 classes, 21.754 teachers*, 6.935 schools and 6.820 directors were evaluated from state, municipal and private schools in every brazilian state and the federal district.

The students were tested on two disciplines: Portuguese and Mathematics. Besides the tests, they also filled out a contextual questionnaire with data on socio-economic status, behavior towards learning and parents´ participation on the educational process. Teachers and directors also answered contextual questionnaires on teaching practices, management and socio-economic background.

*Teachers can be counted twice because sometimes they teach both Portuguese and Mathematics for the same evaluated classes and they have to answer a questionnaire for each subject.

Tests are based on the SAEB´s Matrixes of Reference

The tests aim at evaluating cognitive processes rather than just content. It examines the abilities expected from the students at each level of education. Tests are based on the Saeb's Matrixes of Reference and the current educational policies from the National Curricular Parameters (PCN) and the Law of Policies and Principles of Education (LDB). The Matrixes of Reference are the result of a great national consultation with teachers, researchers and specialists. It is also important to state that all the information collected is confidential; the results are only given by national, regional and state level of aggregation. No individual mention is made. Saeb's results have the fundamental role of subsidizing the elaboration of educational policies in the federal, state and municipal levels of government, helping to identify the variables associated to the learning and teaching processes.