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Principal's leadership in a Catholic primary school
Author
Lee, Margaret Mary Soon Kee
Supervisor
Chong, Keng Choy
Abstract
This is an exploratory study using the questionnaire survey research approach and the face-to-face interview to collect data on the perceptions of the Principal's leadership in a Catholic Primary School. The research collects feedback that would assist in the clarification of leadership skills and also create a sense of awareness and participation in the management of the school. The data collected will also help to find out how the Principal can create a culture that makes its institution inspirational, professional and efficient.
Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire - Principal Leadership Behavior Instrument and fifteen face-to-face interviews over a period of one month. The two months of collecting data foster a convergence of data and help clarify issues which may not be elaborated in only the questionnaire. Following the collection of the data, the sixty-two items of the questionnaire were analyzed over eight factors, namely:
a. Initiation of Structure
b. Consideration
c. Work Emphasis
d. Role Assumption
e. Persuasiveness
f. Tolerance of Uncertainty
g. Tolerance of Freedom
h. Integration
The interviews were tape-recorded and analyzed using the eight mentioned factors. A summary of the key responses of each participant to the interview questions is presented. Direct quotations from the interview transcripts are used to reinforce the responses received.
This study shows that the Principal is strong in issues such as consideration, persuasiveness, tolerance of freedom, integration, role assumption, tolerance of uncertainty, initiation of structure and work emphasis. It is observed that the younger group of teachers in the school wishes to be more enlightened in the direction and vision of the school and is willing to participate in the initiation of structures for their areas of work.
The study also shows that the Principal needs to look into the areas of distribution of workload, expectations of teachers and provision of more critical and regular feedback on the performance of teachers.
This study has been fruitful to the Principal and the teachers of the school. It serves as one of the communication links between the Principal and teachers. The feedback gathered serves to sharpen leadership skills and enhance working relationships. This will enable the Principal and teachers to work towards a higher level of interaction and shared responsibility to improve professionalism and efficiency.
Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire - Principal Leadership Behavior Instrument and fifteen face-to-face interviews over a period of one month. The two months of collecting data foster a convergence of data and help clarify issues which may not be elaborated in only the questionnaire. Following the collection of the data, the sixty-two items of the questionnaire were analyzed over eight factors, namely:
a. Initiation of Structure
b. Consideration
c. Work Emphasis
d. Role Assumption
e. Persuasiveness
f. Tolerance of Uncertainty
g. Tolerance of Freedom
h. Integration
The interviews were tape-recorded and analyzed using the eight mentioned factors. A summary of the key responses of each participant to the interview questions is presented. Direct quotations from the interview transcripts are used to reinforce the responses received.
This study shows that the Principal is strong in issues such as consideration, persuasiveness, tolerance of freedom, integration, role assumption, tolerance of uncertainty, initiation of structure and work emphasis. It is observed that the younger group of teachers in the school wishes to be more enlightened in the direction and vision of the school and is willing to participate in the initiation of structures for their areas of work.
The study also shows that the Principal needs to look into the areas of distribution of workload, expectations of teachers and provision of more critical and regular feedback on the performance of teachers.
This study has been fruitful to the Principal and the teachers of the school. It serves as one of the communication links between the Principal and teachers. The feedback gathered serves to sharpen leadership skills and enhance working relationships. This will enable the Principal and teachers to work towards a higher level of interaction and shared responsibility to improve professionalism and efficiency.
Date Issued
2001
Call Number
LB2822.5 Lee
Date Submitted
2001