HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AS TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERS IN SCHOOLS: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

This study aims to identify the inherent issues and challenges that heads of departments face in their daily responsibilities as transformational leaders in schools. Moreover the purpose of this research was to identify the relevant policies and strategies that heads of departments use in dealing with the issues and challenges. This study used a mixed method approach to collect qualitative and quantitative data. In order to know deeply about the issues and challenges facing by the heads of departments, interviews were carried out with five heads of departments in 5 different Chinese primary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Quantitative method also was used to support the findings from qualitative data. Accordingly, a survey questionnaire was distributed to the sample of 100 Chinese primary school heads of departments randomly. As for the strategies used to overcome the issues and challenges of being a transformational leader, both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed to answer the research questions accordingly. Findings of this research indicate that the main issues and challenges facing the heads of departments in schools are categorized as: Administration, teachers, students, and parents. The outcome of this study can be beneficial for the schools’ heads of departments to overcome the issues regarding their daily responsibilities in schools