This paper provides an analysis of approaches to quality assurance and of the management of quality in general management literature and considers its application to public education systems. Key components of a fully integrated approach to quality assurance and quality management for school systems are listed. (SLD)

A study on the use of performance indicators within a quality assurance system in higher education in the Netherlands is reported. The case study of seven departments of economics shows the attention paid to structural aspects of the curriculum instead of the declared object of the program evaluation. (SLD)