The influence of school leaders' strategic leadership, quality assurance on risky schools in Malaysia

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of school leaders’ Strategic Leadership Practices (SLP), Quality Assurance System Practices (QASP) and School Culture (SC) on selected Risky Secondary Schools (RS) in Malaysia. The sample comprised 472 principals and deputy principals from 141 risky secondary schools across Malaysia. A set of 157-item survey questionnaire were administered among the respondents to seek their views and opinions about their own practices of strategic leadership, quality assurance system, school culture and the management of Malaysian risky schools. Being quantitative in nature, this study used descriptive statistics, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and full-fledged Structural Equation Modeling to address its seven research questions and six research hypotheses. Through the application of CFA, the study had confirmed the presence of multidimensionality of SLP, QASP and SC as being represented by a nine-factor, four-factor and three-factor model, respectively; while SC was revealed represented by four-dimensional constructs. The results revealed the absence of direct causal effects of SLP and QASP on RS, but there was strong evidence of significant causal link or influence of SC on RS. SC appeared to mediate the influence of SLP and QASP on RS. The originality of this study rests on the strength of its hypothesised models and the causal relationships found among all the variables of interest. This particular study was considered as Malaysian indigenous and first of its kind in Malaysia’s system of education. It offers practical insights to stakeholders and practitioners in the educational leadership and management field who are interested in designing, creating and developing safe school environments for Malaysia’s future schools. This study also provides opportunities for prospective researchers to verify and investigate the Strategic Leadership Quality Management RISKS Model (SLQM-RISKS model) by taking into account other variables of interests, besides SLP, QASP and SC.