Quality Management

Quality management within education is primarily about improving the experiences of the students. (This does in turn mean ensuring the teachers are happy working within the organisation of the school). We must be careful not to confuse quality with quantity. Just because we can offer technology, sporting facilities, art supplies, etc., does not mean quality education is being presented. This counteracts the preconceived idea that smaller rural schools do not provide an education of high standards. A student may not be prepared to step into a high-tech job, but the foundations have been laid for life-long learning to continue (Tribus, 1993).

With regard to outcomes based education, this method can be damaging to students as they are only being graded on the final result rather than the process involved in reaching it. I can completely relate to this argument posed by Tribus (1993). Most of my stage 5 students slogged their guts out to complete all assessment tasks. Some submitted drafts, emailed me after school, or asked numerous questions. For those kids to work so hard, it was heartbreaking for me to give C and D grades.