English abstract
This study aims at investigating the applicability of quality circles in Basic Education schools in Sultanate of Oman through attempting to answer the following questions:
1. What is school investigators' level of awareness of quality circles and their applicability in the different aspects of the teaching process in Basic Education schools in the Sultanate of Oman?
2. What are the requirements to apply quality circles in schools from the point of view of school investigators?
3. What are the necessary material and human capabilities to apply quality circles in schools from the point of view of school investigators?
4. Are there statistically meaningful differences in the applicability of quality circles in Basic Education schools that can be attributed to the variables: education region, gender, educational qualification, work experience of school investigators?
5-What do you suggest to increase the use of the quality circles in the schools and how can we promote this effort?
To carry out this study, the researcher followed a descriptive approach. Data was collected through a questionnaire prepared by the researcher which aimed at knowing the applicability of quality circles in schools from the point of view of Basic Education schools investigators. The questionnaire was composed of three sections The questionnaire was refereed by a group of specialized scholars, and its stability was tested by applying it on a pilot sample of school investigators from outside the study sample. The questionnaire's stability level was 0.94, a level that reflects an internal harmony between its different sections.
Results of the study are the following:
1. There is a high level of awareness among school investigators in the Basic Education in the Sultanate of Oman of quality circles and their applicability of the different aspects of the teaching process. The statistical average was 4.24.
2. There is a potential to apply quality circles in Basic Education schools from the point of view of school investigators in the Quality Circles Applicability in Schools section. The statistical average was high, as it reached 4.33.
3. There is a potential to apply quality circles in Basic Education schools from the point of view of school investigators in the Material And Human Capabilities of Applying Quality Circles in Schools section. The statistical average was high, as it reached 3,58.
4. There are statistically meaningful differences at the level (alpha = 0.05) in the second section of the questionnaire, attributed to gender. The differences were in the females' favor.
6. There are statistically meaningful differences at the level (alpha = 0.05) between the sections of the questionnaire, attributed to education region. The differences were in the favor of the Dakhiliyya Region.
Recommendations of the study include the following:
1. Full support by Ministry of Education, in coordination with school administrations, to the creation of a learning environment and a suitable organizational and psychological atmosphere. This, to a large extent, is a major criterion of the educational system's ability to achieve the goals of quality circles.
4. Coordination between Ministry of Education and schools administrations to adopt the philosophy of quality in schools, support it and directing it in order for it to succeed and achieve its objectives.
