QUALITY CIRCLES IN SCHOOLS

What is Quality Circle (QC) ?


Quality Circle is the concept introduced by Dr. Ishikawa to the floor level employees. It is a small group of first line operators to identify their job related problems, analyse, solve and implement the solutions found by utilising Quality Circle tools, techniques and concepts.
Practising this concept helps the people to acquire knowledge in problem solving process and continually improve their skill for their self and mutual development.

It gives opportunity to show their capability, hidden talent and creative thinking. This philosophy is , if we focus on the development of individual , individuals so developed will develop the organization.

That is why Japanese say “Before developing the product, we develop the people”. Many Industries are practising the concept for development of
people who can produce Quality Products, Services & Job.

Definitely, this concept will work wherever group functions be it a Society or Home, as every group is facing various kinds of problem. We can very well say this concept is applicable to Schools also.

Quality Circles can be formed among students, among staff. Awareness about QC Concept, Nomination of QC Coordinator and facilitator, Training in QC Tools and Technique are the process for forming quality Circle in any Organaisation.

Initially we can form 3 or 4 Circles. It is interesting to note that the following are some of the problems/projects identified by students themselves.

Creativity in Selecting QC name (staff Quality Circle)

Tulsi, with its Botanical name Ocium Sanctum is a unique plant associated with Hindu mythology and religion. It is believed that God showers His blessings more on a person who worships Him with a Tulsi leaf rather than a rich person who offers rich gold and jewels. It is venerated as goddess Lakshmi.

Tulsi is known for its righteousness and self purity which can be reused.It can purify anything in its association.

Brain Stomered Problems
1. Improper uniform of the students
2. Disobedience
3. Indiscipline in canteen
4. Lack of cleanliness
5. Lack of discipline in library.
6. Improper behaviour of the students during common meetings
7. Underutilization and ineffective usage of Audio Visual Aids
8. Failures in Mathematics

Why this Problem ?
Visual impact is not the only media of teaching but it has its emphasis on teachers and learners.
STUDENTS
* Increase in the interest level
* Increase in the attention span
* Increase in the concept clarity
TEACHER
* Empowers the teacher
* Integrates the class room teaching
SYSTEM
* More effective

Root Cause : Do not know to handle / operate the AV equipment
Resource Person : Lab Assistant and faculty of Computer
department.

Step :
• Conducted a demo class
• Provided Computer literacy programme to all staff members
• Provided SOP in AV room, Science lab & Language lab

Out come :

Independent handling ensured Tangible Benefits
• Level of interaction has improved. (Before QC: 30%, After QC: 90%)
• No. of Teachers using the AV materials increased. [Before QC:10 teachers(16%), After QC:50 teachers (90%)]
• Identified different types of learners.(NLP) (Auditory: 5% , Auditory & Visual: 75%, Visual and kinesthetic: 90%)
• Audio visual room is found utilised to the maximum extent.
Intangible Benefits
• Confidence level increased.
• Attained satisfaction in teaching.
• Attitude of the teachers towards modern method of teaching improved
• Geared up the multi sensory level of the taught.
• Retrieved the taught from the conventional method of teaching.

Creativity in Selecting QC name (Students Quality Circle)

We have named ourselves ERGERS. ERGON is a Greek word meaning HARD WORK from which is derived ERG a unit of work in CGS system of units. Hence we call ourselves ERGERS meaning HARD WORKERS. There is no substitute for HARD WORK. HARD WORK is the foundation for problem solving. Therefore we won’t care for the problems or difficulties that we may encounter but we will work for success in solving our problem through HARD WORK.

Our objective is to make the students equipped to face the outer world with confidence.Therefore, we want our students not only to be academically proficient , but also to excel in various other fields and to act as good citizens of the country when they move out of the school.

 Improper uniform
 Absenteeism
 Disobedience
 Indiscipline in canteen
 Coming late to school
 Lack of Effective Communication Skills
 Making noise in libraries
 Lack of cleanliness

Why this Problem ?
Student lacks in his/her communication skills, it affects him/her
In School:
¡ Unable to develop rapport with teachers
¡ The all-round personality development of a student is not complete without this skill and therefore the aim of the school is not achieved to the maximum

In Career:
 Loses golden opportunities,talents are not exhibited
 Unable to perform well in interviews
 Unable to excel in his profession
At Home front:
• Generation gap
• Misunderstanding and unhealthy environment
In Social life:
 Unable to make friends
 Unable to express his thoughts and feelings


DEFINITION OF OUR PROBLEM
Communication skills is the ability to express oneself both orally and in writing.A successful effective communication will be achieved when it reaches or makes the desired impact on the audience/others.Lack of effective Communication skills is the lack of expressing one’s idea,feeling or concept in a lucid manner. Although the students of our institution are academically proficient they don’t realize the importance of this life skill

SOLUTIONS BRAINSTORMED STUDENTS:
 A group discussion club will be inaugurated The system of ISAS will be inaugurated.
 A notice board will be placed in each class and the language minister will look after the notice board to be filled with articles authored by the students.
 Every day a new word will be displayed by a student in the notice board [along with its meaning and usage].
 Members of our teams will give impressing and inspiring speeches for the students in general assemblies.
 More students from standard XI will be made to give speeches in general assemblies.
 Students will be taught to prepare themselves for interviews,preparing resumes which is a part communication skills that helps them in future [by external faculties]
 A sort of awareness will be created to the students about the books that they read,the books that are apt for a beginner to read, various other interesting books and also the importance of book reading, by the librarian itself during the first ten minutes of each library period
 We have planned to conduct intra school meetings often and conduct competitions.
 A counseling session will be conducted for students about lack of self confidence and peer pressure.

TEACHERS
 A counseling session will be conducted for the teachers
 Teachers will be asked to conduct seminars in classes frequently.
 A letter will be sent to Mr.V.Sreenivassan , Director of special projects –T.V.S Schools
PARENTS
 Parents will be instructed [made aware] during open houses about the guidelines that they should provide for their wards regarding communication skills [Ex.insisting them to read newspapers]
SYSTEM
 The Principal will be requested to make communication skills a part and parcel of the regular curriculum.

INTANGIBLE BENEFITS
Students developed communication skills
Students got rid of shyness and phobia
As a qc team:
 We developed team spirit
 We got contact with various persons
 By seeing us more Q.C. Teams formed
 We got more friends
 We were appreciated by everybody including students & teachers
 We developed problem solving capacity
 We developed creativity & Innovation
 We got confident that even students can solve problems successfully
I Hope that viewers will agree practicing this QC Concepts in schools enable the students to acquire soft skills for the improvement of self and work life in future.

- Article by B.Balakrishnan , Director . QCFI - Madurai Chapter.