Developing a Model of Total Quality Management for Primary School Education in India

Abstract

This paper examines the concept and strategies of Total Quality Management (TQM), in order to develop a model of TQM based school education for implementation in primary education in India. It begins with a description of challenges of Indian education. After defining the concept of TQM, a philosophy developed for industry by W.E. Deming and adapted to education, it examines its application in the U.S.A. and U.K. A study of the differences between the two nations leads to the analysis that TQM succeeds best as a local school-based initiative. TQM is adaptable as a generic model suitable to the diversity in Indian education. The paper posits a model for TQM in schools, along with enabling conditions and possible pitfalls. TQM is an attitude towards school improvement broad enough to encompass the multifarious needs for school reform in India. Based on the research work in the primary schools of Karnataka, a detailed blueprint for reform is evolved, which incorporates the TQM way of thinking with the major requirements for school improvement. These include: systemic thinking with the school as unit, a decentralized structure, teacher development, teamwork and collegiality, school-level leadership, involvement of the community, focus on the process of learning, and non-threatening assessment.

Keywords: Education, Elementary Education, Schools, Bangalore, India, Primary Education, Education Policy, Public Policy