THE CONCEPT OF COGNITIVE COMPETENCE AND ITS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

Cognitive competence has become one of the central constructs in contemporary educational research, particularly in the context of learner-centered and competency-based education. This article examines the concept of cognitive competence, its theoretical foundations, and the stages of its development from an interdisciplinary perspective. Drawing on cognitive psychology, educational theory, and international assessment frameworks, the study explores how cognitive competence evolves from basic knowledge acquisition to higher-order thinking skills such as analysis, reasoning, and metacognition. The article also discusses pedagogical implications for fostering cognitive competence in formal education. The findings suggest that cognitive competence is a dynamic and developmental construct that can be systematically enhanced through well-designed instructional strategies.