Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn)
Vol 20, No 4: November 2026

Applying plan-do-check-act indicators to assess school culture development in Vietnam

Nhat Thong Du (Ho Chi Minh City University of Education)
Tran Van Dang (Ho Chi Minh City University of Education)
Nguyen Hoang Thien (Ho Chi Minh City University of Education)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Nov 2026

Abstract

This study aims to develop and validate a plan-do-check-act (PDCA)-based measurement model for assessing school culture development (SCD) in Vietnamese high schools. Using a cross-sectional survey of 616 high-school educators (teachers and administrators), data were analyzed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test a five-factor model comprising four PDCA stages—planning, implementation, monitoring, and improvement—and SCD as the outcome. The model demonstrated excellent validity and reliability, with all indicators meeting the recommended criteria and cutoffs. All PDCA components significantly predicted SCD, explaining 47.1% of its variance. Among them, the “improvement” (act) phase was the strongest driver (β=0.375), followed by monitoring (β=0.236), implementation (β=0.214), and planning (β=0.151). These findings highlight PDCA as a robust framework for systematic cultural change, enabling school leaders to move from fragmented initiatives toward closed-loop quality management. Practically, the study provides an evidence-based tool for principals to embed shared values, foster collaboration, and sustain cultural development amid educational reforms. This research fills a critical gap in Vietnam’s education context by offering a validated approach to managing school culture through continuous improvement.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

EduLearn

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Library & Information Science Social Sciences Other

Description

Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn) ISSN: 2089-9823, e-ISSN 2302-9277 is a multi-disciplinary, peer-refereed open-access international journal which has been established for the dissemination of state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of education, teaching, development, instruction, ...