PAKISTANI SCHOOLS POSSESS EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP: PLATITUDE OR REALITY?

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to find out the existing level of leadership skills of the principals working in secondary schools in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan on the basis of teacher’s perception working with these principals. This study was conducted in 31 secondary schools in Pakistan. A sample of 408 secondary school teachers responded completely to a survey instrument comprising 18 items that measured the levels of three leadership skills: transformational, organizational and behavioral leadership skills. The overall findings reveal that the principals working in these secondary schools seem to possess an overall high level of leadership skills. However, there were variations in the level of leadership skills which may be due to structural capital of these organizations, and past job of the principals as leaders and administrators in other schools. The findings do reveal a strong need for boosting and enhancing leadership skills through leadership training for the school principals prior to their selection as school leaders. At the same time, this study also suggests that the authorities should avoid promoting teachers to the head-post without prior leadership training which is very necessary for school effectiveness in the long run.