Implementing the Internal Quality Assurance System: A Qualitative Case Study at an Islamic Secondary School

Abstract

Educational quality assurance in schools requires systematic processes that connect quality standards, evidence, decision-making, and continuous improvement. This study examines the implementation of the Internal Quality Assurance System (SPMI) at Al-Rifa'ie Modern High School, Malang, an Islamic secondary school operating within a pesantren environment. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through structured interviews with school leaders, teachers, and staff, participatory observations, and document analysis. The analysis focused on quality mapping, planning, implementation, evaluation, organizational arrangements, and improvement practices. The findings indicate that SPMI is integrated into school management through quality mapping based on the National Education Standards, alignment with the school's vision and mission, distributed responsibilities among work units, academic and student-development programs, teacher professional development, research and innovation, and continuous evaluation. The study also identifies communication, human-resource capacity, resource availability, and resistance to change as key implementation challenges. The novelty of this study lies in interpreting SPMI not merely as an administrative quality-control mechanism but as a mechanism for developing a culture of continuous improvement within an Islamic educational institution. It further highlights amanah, itqan, ihsan, maslahah, and islah as ethical orientations for responsible quality management. The study implies that SPMI is most effective when evaluation evidence is systematically translated into coordinated improvement actions.