Application of total quality management in education quality improvement: a comparative analysis of public and private secondary schools in Morogoro, Tanzania.
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Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
The study investigated the extent to which Total Quality Management (TQM) is applied in improving the quality of education in Morogoro, Tanzania public and private secondary schools. Literature has shown that TQM is amongst of effective management approach which ensures high-quality service to the customers. However, in education field, it has not been studied extensively. Specifically, the study examine: Levels of commitment in applying TQM principles in the public and private secondary schools; Factors responsible for the difference in the level of commitment in applying TQM principles; Best practices of applying TQM that public and private secondary schools can learn from each other; Establish the correlation between TQM application and levels of education quality in public and private secondary schools. The study employed a mixed-method research approach using comparative research design. Stratified random sampling and Purposive sampling procedures were used to obtain 8 secondary schools and 128 participants and respondents. Data were collected through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and documentary review. Quantitative data were organized and processed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21, and run to descriptive and correlation analysis, and interpreted accordingly. While qualitative data were manually edited, transcribed, and coded before subjected into content analysis for further comparative analysis and reporting. The study found out that private secondary schools out do public secondary schools in applying TQM principles of: customers focus, effective leadership, strategic and systematic approach, and continual improvement. Public secondary schools also were found to have high level of applying evidence-based decision making principle relative to private secondary schools. Both public and private secondary schools were found to have almost the same level of commitment in applying effective communication principle. Besides, difference in focus on education service, management structure, financial status, and political interference in public secondary schools, were found to be common factors for the difference in the level of commitment in applying TQM principles in the public and private secondary schools. Moreover, the study found out that public secondary schools can learn and adapt strict supervision, avoidance of unnecessary bureaucracies, and strengthen PTA, while private secondary schools also can learn and adapt participatory decision making from public secondary schools so as to improve their school management. Furthermore, under Spearman rank order correlation analysis (rho), the study established that at 0.05 level of significance (2-tailed) there is a significant positive relationship between the level of TQM application and education quality in the private secondary schools (r=0.601, n=40, p=0.000), while in the public secondary schools the study found out that there is a weak positive relationship between the level of TQM application and education quality (r=0.012, n=40, p=.941). The study concluded and recommended that disparities in the application of TQM principles among public and private secondary schools, does not imply that private secondary schools have perfected their school management, or public secondary schools are totally imperfect in their school management, instead each side must strive to improve their management practices in line with the developed TQM model for education, so as to improve the quality of education.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF LB2806.35T34M338)
Keywords
School based management, Quality education, Public and private secondary school, Morogoro, Tanzania
Citation
Mhowa, G. (2018). Application of total quality management in education quality improvement: a comparative analysis of public and private secondary schools in Morogoro, Tanzania. Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam.