Most people do not like change, but the tough reality about teaching is that it is always changing.
South African schools have undergone huge changes since the 1990s, with a commitment by the national department of education to make every school a quality school.
Since January 2008 theTeacher has published articles about the Quality in Education model, which was designed by the South African Quality Institute (SAQI).
The five-pillar model consists of values, leadership, improvement plans, communication tools and techniques. These pillars could build schools of educational excellence. The following steps can be used to implement quality further:
1. Commit from the top
The principal must believe in quality education because he or she motivates the senior management team (SMT) to achieve excellence. What does one do when there is no commitment from the top? The teacher can apply the quality values in the classroom. When others see the improvements in the quality-focused classroom, more staff members will come on board. One teacher can be the spark for transformation. Sell the quality message well and it will spread like a summer veld fire.
2. Train the SMT
Senior management should understand quality theory and practice and adapt it to the particular school. By attending leadership and management courses, teams can visit companies and schools that apply quality principles. The SMT can use leadership and management magazines – sold at most bookstores – to create a reference library.
3. Train all the staff
Training should be given to all staff. There should be at least one training session that involves everyone. Core quality principles such as continuous improvement and teamwork apply to all staff. Thereafter, training focuses on the different staff groupings. The clerks or secretarial staff, for example, would have different training to that of the SMT.
4. Determine classroom and school values
The vision and mission statements, as well as rules, must be formulated. Classroom and whole-school rules should have learner acceptance. Learners are crucial to the rule-making process. Let rules be guides to preferred behaviour, for example, put up your hand if you wish to answer a question. Avoid having a list of “don’ts”, for example, don’t shout out the answers.
5. Apply quality leadership principles
The quality-driven school has fewer rungs in the hierarchy ladder because leadership responsibilities are dispersed. Responsibilities are given to people most suited to specific projects and tasks. The leadership style is participative and everyone is encouraged to give input. The leaders can serve others by selflessly offering their talents and skills.
6. Assessing the present level of quality
Do a baseline assessment to know the level of quality in the school. This can determine and guide future action. There are many ways to do a baseline assessment, such as meeting the stakeholders and getting input from the school governing body, parent-teacher association and the children’s council or representative council of learners. Sports teams and committees can also give assessments. Written questionnaires given to learners, parents and staff are also useful. The questionnaires should encourage the respondents to suggest possible improvements.
7. Implement school improvement plans
Not all baseline recommendations can be implemented because some are impractical. Others go against the values of the school or education department legislation. Prioritise the order in which the plans are to be implemented and outline the steps to be followed in each plan.
8. Communicate the quality message
A school must publicly state its commitment to quality – spread the message by talking about it at assemblies and various meetings. Use circulars, the principal’s weekly newsletter, the website and the annual magazine to help to spread the message. Quality achievements can be praised at assemblies and on World Quality Day (second Thursday of November).
9. Revisit the implementation process
The process itself needs continuous change. Revisit each step by going back to the beginning again. SAQI has school leadership and management programmes. Where necessary, schools are sponsored.
For more information contact Vuyi Segooa on 012 394 3400 or [email protected] or speak to Richard Hayward on 011 888 3262 or e-mail him on [email protected]