Investigacion Participativa y Gestion de Sistemas Educativos. (Participatory Research and the Management of Educational Systems).

Elements which, when put in harmony, might generate powerful tools for social change and educational development are (1) the ever present need of the educational systems to evaluate their performance; (2) the universal acceptance of the life-long education concept as a major guideline to design educational programs; (3) the trend toward a generalized participation and decentralization in social systems; (4) the humanization and modernization of managerial practice; and (5) the use of participatory research models to solve social problems. This paper presents some reflections on these elements and on their interrelationship. Some contextual cosiderations are made and concepts are developed about the common areas that can exist among participatory research and management of educational systems. In order to substantiate the potential of this interaction, some experiences in the Latin American countries of Colombia, Chile, and Central America are discussed and perspectives are stated about the harmonization of participatory research and educational management. (Author/NQA)