State‐level educational performance in Brazil: A MCDM approach taking a governance perspective

Abstract

This study presents an educational performance assessment of Brazilian state-level units using the technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS). Although this technique is a well-established multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model that can be applied across diverse areas, it has yet to be applied to an analysis of primary and secondary education. We assess how state-level units in Brazil perform in terms of primary and secondary educational inputs and outputs during the period from 2013 to 2017. We handle epistemic uncertainty with regard to weight definition using maximal information entropy. Additionally, a Tobit regression approach on performance scores is developed. Results show that region of the country plays an important role in determining educational performance. Moreover, results indicate that gross domestic product (GDP) is positively related to education scores while infant mortality is negatively associated with educational performance.

Social participation in science museums: A concept under construction

“…Despite comprising 56% of the population (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, 2010), the Southeast and South regions of the country have the highest number of museums, accounting for around 67% of Brazilian museums (Instituto Brasileiro de Museus, 2011). These regions also receive more investments, have a more robust administrative structure, and are home to higher‐income populations, which could both determine and be determined by better educational performance (Bizzo et al, 2021).…”