The moral imperative
QUALITY IMPERATIVES: The customers and clients of the education service (students, parents, and the community) deserve the best possible quality of education. Hence, this is the moral high ground in education. Educational professionals and administrators must have an overriding concern to provide the best possible educational opportunities.
The professional imperative
Closely linked to the moral imperative is the professional imperative. Professionalism implies a commitment to the needs of students. Because it is an obligation to meet the needs of students, institutions must employ the most appropriate pedagogic practices.
The competitive imperative
Competition is a reality in the world of education. Educationalists can meet the challenge of competition by working to improve the quality of their service. TQM, which is a customer-driven process, focuses on the needs of clients. The competition requires strategies that differentiate institutions from their competitors. Focusing on the needs of the customer, which is at the heart of quality, is one of the most effective means of facing the competition and surviving.
The accountability imperative
Schools and colleges being part of their communities must meet the political demands for education to be more accountable and publicly demonstrate the high standards. TQM supports the accountability imperative by promoting objective and measurable outcomes. Institutions have to demonstrate that they can deliver what their customers require to meet the quality imperatives.
