3Rd QUALITY YOUTH INITIATIVES SUMMIT 2013

3rd QUALITY YOUTH INITIATIVES SUMMIT 2013 From 20th t0 25th May 2013 Republic of Mauritius

Official Opening of the 3rd QYIS Saint Esprit College, Quatre Bornes Wednesday 22 May 2013

The Rector of Saint Esprit College, Mr Jacques Malié Mr Madhukar Narain, Chairmain of the Mauritian Society for Quality Control Circle Distinguished guests Ladies and Gentlemen Dear Students

Let me first express my pleasure to be amongst you this morning for the Official Opening of the 3rd Quality Youth Initiatives Summit here at the Saint Esprit College.

This college is also celebrating its 75 years of existence and I congratulate the Rector, the Staff – teaching and non-teaching – as well as the Management and all the students for what has been achieved so far by this prestigious college. During these 75 years Saint Esprit College has been always present to serve the education sector, parents and the community at large.

1 | P a g e The Mauritian Society for Quality Control Circle, under the aegis of QCI International USA and the World Council for Total Quality and Excellence in Education is hence once again renewing one of its yearly activities under its Quality Youth Initiatives.

I note with much appreciation the participation of different colleges from Mauritius and also from India, namely:  Sun City World School, Gurgaon, Delhi,  Little Angels School, Gwalior  City Montessori School, Indira Nagar, Lucknow

Quality Circles were originally associated with Japanese Management and manufacturing techniques. The introduction of quality circles in Japan in the postwar years was inspired by the lectures of W. Edwards Deming (1900-1993), a statistician for the U.S.

A quality circle is a participatory management technique that enlists the help of employees in solving problems related to their own jobs. The concept of Quality Circles in education is a very new one. This concept enables students as well as teachers and various stake holders to adopt a very positive and optimistic approach to problems and enhances problem-solving skills.

2 | P a g e It allows students to understand the cause and the effect of any problem. Quality Circles are the means by which continuous education can take place whereby students as well as management are given the opportunity to view problems through various perspectives.

I am happy to note that the Saint Esprit College has equally adopted this in their school and have received various international awards. I do hope that other Mauritian colleges equally move towards Quality Circles.

A typical Quality Circle group will display a good approach to:

- Analysing the context of a problem and its situation.

- Define exactly what the problem is and the relationship between its component parts.

- Identify and verify that the causes are indeed causes, ensuring that solutions address the real problem.

- Define, quantify and measure the impact of a given problem.

- Understand the quality objectives.

- Create a solution to a given problem.

3 | P a g e Quality Circle groups generally address issues such as improving safety, improving product design, and improving manufacturing process. Because Quality Circle groups remain intact from project to project they have the advantage of consistency though they retain the option to call in expertise or request training when needed.

Quality circles have therefore the advantage of continuity; the circle remains intact from project to project.

Thus, in Education also, the philosophy behind quality circle will make children/ students imbibe its concept as well as the culture of improvement and this will help them become better citizens.

Today, I am told, students will present their case study on various themes that affect their daily lives. I am made to understand that they have regrouped themselves in quality circles and have chosen a theme, brainstormed, analyzed the cause and effect and have come out with solutions.

This way of working, that is a team-oriented approach to learning, will enable our students to become team leaders, project managers and hence better leaders.

I wish you all happy deliberations and once again would like to wish a long and fruitful continuous journey to the Saint Esprit College.

Thank you for your attention.

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