Benchmarking For Improvement of Quality in Private Universal Basic Education Junior Secondary Schools in Rivers State

Abstract

This study focused on Benchmarking is an improvement process in which an organization is able to measure it’s performance against that of the best in class to determine how these organizations achieve their performance level and use the information to improve their own performance. Quality means fully satisfying agreed or established customer requirement at the lowest price. This study was designed to find out the role of benchmarking in improving quality in Universal Basic Education Junior secondary schools in Rivers State. From a population of 490 principals and vice principals from the 245 private UBE junior secondary schools in Rivers State a sample of 250 was used. In carrying out the research a self structured questionnaire was used, opinions of experts in the field were sought for reliability purpose. Data collected were descriptively analysed using mean and standard deviation and rank order for the research questions posed and z-test for hypotheses. The researchers made some finding that benchmarking increases potentials, enables institutions set standard which no other can beat and educational goals are achieved with benchmarking in private UBE junior secondary schools.

Keywords: Benchmarking, Improvement, Quality, Private and Universal Basic Education.