Introduction to

Quality
Basic Concepts, Principles and Evolution
Outline
• What is Quality?
• Quality in Education
• Total Quality Management
• Continuous Improvement Methodology

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WHAT IS QUALITY?

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What is Quality?
• Characteristic or property
• Personal trait or character trait
• Essential character
• Superiority
• Degree of excellence
• A distinguishable attribute

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In Another Language, Quality
Can Mean
• Performance • Aesthetics
• Reliability • Features
• Durability • Conformance to
standards
• Serviceability

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QUALITY IN EDUCATION

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Quality in Education

“Children have a right to an

education, a quality education”
(UNICEF, 2000)

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Quality in Education
(UNICEF, 2000, paraphrased)
• Healthy learners supported by their families and
communities
• Safe learning environments with adequate resources
and facilities
• Relevant curricula and materials for the acquisition of
basic skills
• Child-centered teaching processes with well-managed
classrooms and schools
• Outcome-based learning relevant to achievement of
national goals and society

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Quality in Education
• The understanding of education as a complex
system embedded in a political, cultural, and
economic context.
• It is important to keep in mind education’s
systemic nature, however, these dimensions are
interdependent, influencing each other in ways
that are sometimes unforeseeable.

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What is a SYSTEM?
• A System is a whole, which
consists of interdependent and
interacting parts with a single
purpose.
• A system is greater than the sum
of its parts.
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What is Systems Thinking?
• A way of thinking (paradigm) about the
world and relationships.
• It is a way of thinking about life, work,
and the world based on the importance of
relationships (interconnections).

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TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

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Total Quality Management
A comprehensive and fundamental rule or belief
for leading and operating an organization, aimed
at continually improving performance over the
long term by focusing on customers while
addressing the needs of all stakeholders.

SOURCE: ISO TC 176/SC2/WG15/N131 --

Quality Management Principles and Guidelines on Their Application,
29 May 1997.

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 Total Quality Management as a Performance Excellence Framework for Education

SCHOOL PROFILE:
ENVIRONMENT, RELATIONSHIPS,
CHALLENGES

5
2
TEACHER &
SCHOOL
NON-
IMPROVEMENT
TEACHING
PLANNING
STAFF FOCUS

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1
SCHOOL
SCHOOL RESULTS
LEADERSHIP

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3
SCHOOL
LEARNER AND
PROCESS MGT
STAKEHOLDER
FOCUS

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MEASUREMENT, ANALYSIS,
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
METHODOLOGY

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Continuous Improvement
Methodology
A methodology to continually assess,
analyze, and act on the performance
improvement of key processes focusing on
both customer needs and the desired
performance.

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 School CI Projects
Undertake Improvement Projects
• Evaluate school performance
Identify priority
improvement project • Recommend an improvement project
• Get Division approval on the project

Form the CI Team • Identify school personnel who will

undertake the project

Apply the CI improvement

methodology • Use Continuous Improvement
Methodology tools

Monitor and evaluate CI • Review project outputs and outcomes

program status 17
 Continuous Improvement
Methodology
Assess Analyze Act
Step 1: Get Organized Step 5: Do root cause Step 8: Pilot Your
analysis Solution
Step 2: Talk with
Customers Step 6: Develop Step 9: Roll Out your
Solutions Solution
Step 3: Walk the Process
Step 7: Finalize Step 10: Check Your
Step 4: Identify Priority
Improvement Progress
Improvement Areas
Plan

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