Does TQM have a Role in Education?

Abstract

As the author of two books and numerous articles on the relationship between TOM and education (Sallis 2003) you would expect me to answer in the affirmative and to give as my rationale the fact that education at whatever stage, primary, secondary, tertiary or higher, is simply a service and like any service industry is capable of improvements in its quality to its various customers and clients. But if this is the case then why do so few institutions have mission statements that acknowledge their commitment to total quality management?