The Relationship Between TQM Practices and Primary School Academic Performance in Abu Dhabi: Innovation as a Mediator

Introduction

This study is investigating the total quality management practices and primary school academic performance in Abu Dhabi: innovation as a mediator. There are three variables used for the study, namely total quality management as independent variable, innovation as mediator and primary school academic performance as dependent variable. The total quality management consist of six dimensions i.e. human resource management, strategic planning, leadership, and students focus, training and knowledge and process management. For innovation, four dimensions are used. They include students centered approach and blended learning, innovation management and transformational leadership. For primary school academic performance, three dimensions was used namely; students’ academic performance, completion rate of students and learning facilities as well.

As a result of this useful introduction, Total Quality Management (TQM) specific practices can be considered as one of the most prominent and emerging management philosophies which can be potentially deployed within the institutions and organizations across the globe in order to attain a better level of performance (Evas, 2005; Adina, 2012). This management philosophy and paradigm has potentially acquired a high value among the industry and different educational institutions nowadays. The applicability of TQM within the educational institutions for the countries such as the United Arab Emirates and its major cities potentially require an extensive piece of work in order to substantiate the different features to be applied in accordance with the local culture as well as social dynamics. The adequate Framework for monitoring the existing educational processes and the introduction of certain innovative methodologies for the evaluation of the communication specific culture within the Educational Institutes of the major cities of the country such as Abu Dhabi are important to be investigated (ADEC, 2008). The Educational Institutes are potentially managed and administered by the high ranking officials and educational experts who are potentially responsible for looking after the various educational activities as well as the policy related implementation at the institute level (ADEC, 2008).

There are substantially many different areas of the academic excellence and improvement which can be perceived in the light of the existing educational policies and the procedures adopted by the educational Institutes functioning within Abu Dhabi. The deployment of some of the innovative methodologies and techniques in connection with the introduction of most effective teaching as well as other useful ways to enhance the quality of the education can be possible by utilizing and deploying the guidelines set in accordance with the internationally acceptable quality frameworks such as the total quality management (Ngambi & Nkemkiafu, 2015).

Problem Statement

Reduction in students’ performance in primary schools has becoming a great concern for school leaders and policy makers in the country (Asikhia, 2010). Parent raised the need for solid base to be developed to reach quality service in education industry to promote academic performance (Syed, 2013). The challenges associated with the country’s educational performance especially at the primary schools could be improved upon if total quality management control is taken seriously and mainstreamed into the educational development policies and programmes in the country (Ajayi & Oyeniyi, 2017). TQM is focus on all processes which schools used to bring quality teaching to students.

In organization like schools, the school heads have more confidence when students’ academic performance improve (Zehir, Ertosun, Zehir & Muceldilli, 2012). One of the philosophies of TQM is the ability to see that the students in the system perform excellently. In fact, TQM practices in the school will help the school leaders to double their efforts toward bringing quality teaching in the classroom (Akhtar, Zameer & Saeed, 2014). TQM is the philosophy of management that tends to link all organizational functions in the school system to focus on meeting the requirements of students and goals of the school (Hashmi, 2018).

As a result of that, TQM has played innumerable role in the realization of educational objectives. The TQM is still not popular in Abu Dhabi schools by the school leaders. As TQM was practices in oil industries and manufacturing company, the study of it is still dearth in primary schools in Abu Dhabi. The academic performance of primary school students in the last five years was not encouraging. The ministry of education (MoE) and UAE government were concerned about what cause reduction in the academic performance. Likewise, the parents has asked intrigued questions from the school leaders about what cause reduction in the performance of the students. Although, the performance was not so bad but MoE and government expecting more performance than previous one. The results of the students have not meet government expectation. This is gap the researcher intended to fill in this study.

More so, less awareness of innovation in Abu Dhabi schools to teach students is limited. Some of the schools have not been able to adjust to latest techniques in education because some countries like UK, America, and Netherlands have integrated innovation in the way they teach students. Besides this, total quality management has not been fully understand by the teachers to promote quality output needed by the society. This has been a major concerned to policy makers and stakeholders in education. Educational management also lacking which resulted in little reduction in students’ academic performance. When the education is not well manage as expected, students’ performance will be drop. The government has beginning to take drastic actions to improve the situation but it has not be fully achievable.

Again, to buttress the above statement, despite the numerous studies investigated by different scholars ((Akhtar, Zameer & Saeed, 2014; Akhtar, S., Zameer & Saeed, 2014; unglowala & Asthana, 2016; Al-Qayoudhi, Hussaini & Khan, 2017; Al-Damen, 2017; Arshad, Halipah & Omar, 2018) on total quality management. Most of this studies are done in foreign countries. However, less studies have not been investigated on Abu Dhabi schools (UAE). Even though, as scholars investigating total quality management, primary school has not been used together with it. It is believing of this study that if total quality management is fully adopted in Abu Dhabi in the provision of quality education. The education of Abu Dhabi will be a first of its kind in UAE.

Methods

quantitative method is used for this study, quantitative method is useful in the sense that it analyses, explain theories and relate all the hypotheses generated in the study (Creswell et al., 2011). This is why this current study is try to investigate total quality management practices and primary school academic performance in Abu Dhabi: innovation as a mediator. The quantitative is able to generate the findings of the study.

Population and Sampling Methods

The total number of primary schools in Abu Dhabi city is 102 schools. Out of this 102 schools 43 schools in Abu Dhabi Island, Al-Ain got 38 schools and Al-Dhafra got 21 schools. In the same vein, total numbers of primary school’s teachers in Abu Dhabi emirate was 6982. Out of this number, Abu Dhabi Island got 3193 teachers, Al-Ain got 3036 teachers and Al-Dhafra got 753 respectively. Therefore, the focus population of this current study cover Abu Dhabi Island with 3193 teachers and 43 schools.

Instruments

Conclusion

According to the empirical result alongside the literature review shows that there is a significant influence between six indicators ( Strategic Planning, Students Focus, Human resource, Management, School Leadership, Training, Knowledge and process management individually and combined and the primary school academic performance).

The coefficient is positively correlated that are six indictors can be a good variable. The study conducted to teacher varied and sophisticated research methods. It’s enhancing the primary school academic performance.

References