Relationship between total quality management and academic performance in public primary schools in Bungoma South District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between adoption of selected Total Quality Management (TQM) principles and academic performance in public primary schools in Bungoma South District. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent of adoption of selected TQM principles by primary school HffS in Bungoma south district; determine the challenges encountered by primary schools and teachers in implementation of TQM principles and establish the relationship between adoption of TQM principles and K.C.P.E performance of primary schools.

The study answered the following research questions: To what extent have primary schools HffS adopted the selected TQM principles, what are the challenges encountered by primary school HffS and teachers in implementation of TQM principles and what is the relationship between adoption of the selected TQM principles and K.C.P.E performance in primary schools. The researcher used the descriptive survey design to enable description of the phenomena under study. A sample of 16 schools out of 156 public primary schools were selected and used for the study.

The stratified random sampling method was employed to obtain the sample schools and subjects of the study. The researcher used questionnaires and interview schedules to obtain primary data and undertook document analysis to obtain secondary data. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Programme for Social Sciences (SPSS) and the research hypothesis was tested using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r).

The study established that the introduction of FPE has enabled primary HffS to prepare development plans through a participatory approach in order to access FPE funds. However most schools are yet to embrace strategic planning on the basis of systematic SWOT analysis. Majority of the teachers' value continuous training in order to improve on their skills but the opportunities available are not adequate. The study hypothesis established that there is a positive and significant relationship between the adoption of the selected TQM principles and K.C.P.E performance of primary schools.