Student Quality Circles: A Unique Outlook on Education

Student Quality Circles (SQCs) is adapted from ‘Quality Control Circles’ which is a very important part of Total Quality Management (TQM) (in which the employees of an organization work together to solve the problems faced, so that there is a continuous process of improving the goods and services provided to the customers). It was developed by two Indian engineers, and proposed by City Montessori School(CMS) Lucknow, India in 1994, at a conference in Hong Kong.

In 1999, the ‘World Council for Total Quality & Excellence’ in Education was initiated; its head office is in Singapore. Today there are more than 12 member countries which include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Iran, India, UK and the USA. Its function is to aid co-curricular activities in these countries.

What is a Student Quality Circle?

A SQC can comprise of 5-10 volunteer students who meet on frequent basis during school hours in the presence of a helper to identify and solve the problems of a specific area that are being faced at school or at home through a scientific method. Tools such as a) Check sheets b) Control Charts c) Graphs d) Histogram e) Pareto Chart f) Scatter Diagrams g) Fishbone Diagram h) Tree Diagram are used to examine the data.

A school can have many SQCs. Following are the steps in its formation and operation:

  • Name
  • Election of Leader
  • Selection of Theme
  • Forming a Plan
  • Investigation
  • Establishing Goals
  • Analysis of Problem
  • Planning
  • Countermeasures
  • Compilation of Results
  • Standardization
  • Review and Future Planning
  • Summary and Report

First Student Quality Circle in Pakistan

In 2006 the first SQC in Pakistan was formed at the Modernage Public School & College, Abbottabad (MAPS).

EQUIP-Pakistan

EQUIP (Empowerment through QUality education, Innovation and Productivity) is the sister organization of MAPS, which has been established with an aim of creating a ‘Total Quality Society’ by implementing TQM.

To achieve this goal it is facilitating students in learning how to apply problem solving techniques to real world problems, by creating the required environment at school. Furthermore it is providing a platform for students to showcase their skills at a forum, which is held nearly every year in November. Until now four Regional and six National Conventions have been held.

9th National Convention

The 9th National Convention on SQC was held from 3rd to 4th November, 2017 at MAPS. It consisted of events such as:

  • Case Study
  • Collage
  • Debates
  • 60 Second Filmmaking
  • Paper Presentation
  • Quiz
  • Game Development

Around 1000 students from 58 national institutes participated belonging to cities such as Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Mardan, Sialkot & Muzaffarabad. There were 6 international schools from Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the UK as well as 40 international delegates. The theme was Integration, Innovation & Involvement. It was a very successful event.

Positive Outcomes of Student Quality Circles in Pakistan

SQCs have greatly benefitted the students because they have:

  • Gained self-reliance, self-respect and discipline
  • Learnt how to solve problems scientifically
  • Learnt about teamwork and leadership
  • Learnt communication and presentation skills
  • Learnt management skills and prioritization
  • Increased their knowledge
  • Become responsible, positive and compassionate
  • Enthusiastically explored their talents and creativity

About Mordernage Public School and College, Abbottabad

MAPS began as a small school in 1986; however within a decade it made great progress and since 1996 has been providing quality education to students from Montessori to HSSC. Just recently it has been awarded the ‘International School Award’ by the British Council.

All credit goes to Mr. Abdul Wahid Mir who is the principal since the beginning. He is also Director General of EQUIP-Pakistan. He is an award winning educationist, whose broad vision has made the school what it is today, and implemented SQCs in Pakistan. Today around 60 institutes are practicing SQCs in the regions of KPK and Punjab.

For further information about Student Quality Circles in Pakistan, visit www.equippakistan.org