EDUCATION QUALITY MONITORING AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL IN TIMES OF TRANSFORMATIONS: RISKS AND THREATS

<jats:p>The article examines education quality monitoring as a key management tool in the system of general secondary education under conditions of transformation and crisis challenges, Potential risks and threats identified. The study substantiates the need to rethink traditional approaches to monitoring, taking into account the dynamic nature of the educational environment, digitalization processes, and increasing risks. Monitoring is interpreted not merely as a technical procedure of data collection, but as a comprehensive information-analytical system that ensures data-driven decision-making, forecasting, and adaptive management. An integrated model of education quality monitoring is proposed, combining analytical, managerial, digital, and risk-oriented approaches and functioning as a continuous cyclical process. The structure of the monitoring system includes interconnected blocks: contextual analysis, data collection and processing, managerial decision-making, change management, and evaluation of effectiveness. The article outlines a system of indicators for assessing education quality, including result-based, process-oriented, resource, and adaptive indicators, with particular emphasis on resilience and sustainability in crisis conditions. Special attention is paid to the role of digital technologies, which expand monitoring capabilities, enable real-time data processing, improve transparency, and support remote management. The transition from periodic data collection to continuous monitoring creates opportunities for timely identification of deviations, rapid response to emerging challenges, and more accurate forecasting of educational outcomes. At the same time, the effectiveness of digital monitoring depends on the availability of appropriate infrastructure, digital competencies of stakeholders, and data protection mechanisms. Key risks affecting the effectiveness of monitoring systems are identified, including data unreliability, digital inequality, resistance to change, information overload, and limited resources, along with strategies for their mitigation. The study also emphasizes the importance of developing a monitoring culture within educational institutions, which promotes responsible use of data and supports evidence-based management practices. It is proved that effective monitoring serves not only as a control mechanism but as a development tool that enhances education quality, supports adaptability, and ensures the sustainability of educational systems in conditions of uncertainty and transformation.</jats:p>