School leadership theories and the Malaysia education blueprint: findings from a systematic literature review

Bush, Tony; Abdul Hamid, Suriani; Ng, Ashley Yoon Moi; Kaparou, Maria

Abstract

Purpose

This paper provides a systematic review of the Malaysian literature on three prominent leadership models (instructional, distributed and transformational), linked to a major educational reform initiative captured in the Ministry of Education's Malaysia Education Blueprint.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is a systematic review of all relevant Malaysianliterature, in English and Bahasa Malaysia, on instructional, distributed and transformational leadership, and alternative terms linked to these models.

Findings

The findings show that there is an emerging literature on these leadership models and their prevalence in Malaysian schools but that they have been interpreted in ways that are distinctive to the highly centralised Malaysian context. For example, instructional leadership is prescribed, so there is some evidence of its practice, notably in respect of monitoring. Similarly, distributed leadership is allocative, rather than emergent, as suggested in Western literature.

Research limitations/implications

The findings show that, while research on these models is emerging, much more research is required to establish whether and how leadership practice in Malaysia differs from that outlined in the normative Western literature.
Practical implications

There is emerging evidence to suggest that instructional and distributed leadership, if enacted carefully, can have a positive impact on student outcomes

Originality/value

This is believed to be the first systematic review of the Malaysian literature on school leadership models, linked to the Malaysia Education Blueprint. It is also distinctive in including both English language, and Bahasa Malaysia, sources.

Citation

Bush, T., Abdul Hamid, S., Ng, A. Y. M., & Kaparou, M. (2018). School leadership theories and the Malaysia education blueprint: findings from a systematic literature review. International Journal of Educational Management, 32(7), 1245-1265. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-06-2017-0158

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 28, 2017
• Publication Date: Sep 10, 2018
• Deposit Date: Mar 1, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 10, 2018
• Journal: International Journal of Educational Management
• Print ISSN: 0951-354X
• Electronic ISSN: 0951-354X
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 1245-1265
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-06-2017-0158
• Keywords: Malaysia Education Blueprint; Instructional leadership; Distributed leadership; Transformational leadership
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/901776
• Publisher URL: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/IJEM-06-2017-0158