Increasing the Pass Rate of G.C.E. Advanced Level Engineering Technology Stream Students in a 1AB Nati onal School in the Matugama Zone through Comprehensive Process Management, Training and Development, and Supervision System

Abstract

Educati on plays a vital role in shaping Sri Lankan society, with nati onal-level exams, especially the Advanced Level (A/L) exams, being highly infl uenti al. There are growing concerns about pass rates in the A/L engineering technology stream. This study aimed to increase the pass rate in a selected school from 51.38% to 60.00% within a year by implementi ng a comprehensive framework involving process management, training and development, and supervision system. The methodology used both qualitati ve and quanti tati ve approaches. Structured interviews with six engineering technology teachers helped to develop a questi onnaire, which was distributed to 100 students who had taken the A/L engineering technology exam. Quanti tati ve data were also collected from various sources. Root cause analysis using the Ishikawa diagram revealed seven root causes. Proposed soluti ons included implementi ng Standard Operati ng Procedures (SOPs) and fl ow charts for bett er process management, conducti ng comprehensive training needs analysis, designing and evaluati ng training programs, and introducing checklists and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to enhance supervision. These measures aimed to systemati cally address issues and improve educati onal outcomes of the school. Improved process management was expected to enhance both teacher and student skills. Training and development eff orts aimed to boost student engagement, teacher sati sfacti on, and teaching eff ecti veness. The supervision system focused on increasing teacher parti cipati on, enhancing the teaching-learning process, and improving student performance. The study suggested that increasing pass rates is a signifi cant indicator of a school’s overall quality and eff ecti veness. Eff ecti ve planning, adherence to established processes, identi fying staff training needs, and regular observati on and feedback mechanisms are essenti al for improving pass rates.