Total quality management in learning environment case of secondary school in Northern Cyprus

Abstract

Primarily beign applied in the sector of industry, Total Quality Management (TQM) has begun to be used in the sector of education as well. In terms of the application of TQM in the sector of education, the principal, teacher and the student triangle is the most significant element that makes the humane dimension. In this study as a case research, the behaviours of the principal, teacher and the student in a middle school in Northern Cyprus were observed in order to assess the appropriateness of their behaviour to TQM implementation. As a result of study, the principal and the teachers generally assess their own behaviours as “good” whereas they assess the behaviours of the students as “bad”. On the other hand, generally the principal was assesed as “bad” and the teacher was assessed as “good” according to students in terms of TQM. Various establishments and instutions have different approaches about providing productivity, quality and facility increase. TQM is one of the most popular one among these different approaches. TQM was brought about especially for physical production but now it s also used in service production areas such as health, finance and aducation. In this study, the appropriateness of the education (working) athmosphere of a secondary school to TQM was examined as a case reasearch. The appropriateness of the attitudes, behaviours and way of thinking of the principal, teacher and student was observed and the main goal of this study is the measures to be taken under these circumstances within the framework of TQM.

Keywords: TQM, Learning Environment, NorthernCyprus