What is Total Quality Education (TQE)? Why is the concept so important to anyone interested or involved in education? TQE is able to turn an ordinary school into an outstanding one. How does it do that?

TQE looks at quality leadership and management practices and principles as found across the world. It then adapts them to the unique field of education. You don’t need money (although a small amount helps!) to create quality classrooms and schools.

Every Quality school – whether rural or urban or poor or rich - is similar. Such a school focuses on five crucial leadership and management pillars. The school is able to adapt, survive and thrive even in chaotic, pandemic times. Educational excellence doesn’t need to miss a heartbeat.

There is discussion in the book on how to deal with a range of fraught school issues including bullying, gender-based and racial prejudices. Attention is also given to what can be done to deal with potential abuse of power by authority figures.

Every dedicated educator knows that education is challenging. It makes tough demands. Yet there’s immense enjoyment, much laughter and sense of professional achievement too. There are easy-to-apply ways to create and nurture such a school.

As you read this book, be inspired by this 21st century approach to education. Enjoy the true incidents. Be challenged to use TQE quality practices and principles. They definitely work... guaranteed! They add true quality to the school day of every child and every teacher.

Dr Richard Hayward has spent a lifetime in education. He has been a principal of two schools. Richard has won awards for contributions to education. Presently he consults, writes and does professional development programmes across Southern Africa.