International Journal of Educational Management

Mokoena, Thabang Donald; van Tonder, Gideon Petrus

2024 International Journal of Educational Management

doi: 10.1108/ijem-05-2023-0247

This paper aims to determine the impact of mentorship on the development of self-directedness among beginner teachers in their initial years of teaching.Design/methodology/approachThe researcher adopted a positivist paradigm to explore the situation of concern. Quantitative research was conducted, involving the collection and analysis of numerical data. Two closed-ended structured questionnaires were utilised, derived from the 40-item self-directed learning readiness scale (SDLRS) developed by Fisher and King, and a pre-determined questionnaire by Glazerman focused on the first-year teaching experience, induction and mentoring of beginner teachers.FindingsBeginner teachers merely relying on the knowledge obtained from their studies is insufficient to achieve a satisfactory level of self-directedness when starting a teaching career. Most beginner teachers faced significant challenges in their early years of teaching due to the absence of mentoring support. In addition, most indicated that they resume their teaching duties and rely on their district for general support, guidance and orientation. Finally, the results have shown that mentoring positively impacts beginner teachers’ self-directedness.Research limitations/implicationsThe first limitation was that this study was narrowed to one South Africa University part-time B.Ed honours students working as beginner teachers in different provinces at primary and secondary schools. As a result, the findings of this research might be interpreted by some critics as one-sided and not representative of the views of most beginner teachers in South Africa who are working. The second limitation of this study is the sample size. In this study, 222 responses were received. As a result, the findings of this research might be considered not representative of the target sample size.Practical implicationsThe presence and effective implementation of mentoring programmes in schools can positively impact beginner teachers' professional development and retention during their first years of teaching.Social implicationsWe contend that our research holds significance for international readership as it aims to garner attention towards potential research endeavours in diverse settings concerning mentorship programs for beginner teachers, specifically promoting self-directed learning. Our research offers opportunities to compare our findings with studies conducted in more comprehensive, comparative contexts and foster research possibilities in broader, contrasting contexts.Originality/valueBased on the findings of this research, the availability and effective use of mentoring programmes would significantly affect beginner teachers' self-directedness, improve their retention rate and alleviate their teaching challenges. This study was the first research on the perceptions of the influence of mentoring on the self-directedness of beginner teachers.

Haddade, Hasyim; Nur, Askar; Achruh, Andi; Rasyid, Muhammad Nur Akbar; Ibrahim, Andi

2024 International Journal of Educational Management

doi: 10.1108/ijem-05-2023-0236

Improving the quality of madrasah in the digital era is a must. This can be committed by strengthening aspects of madrasah governance through implementing management strategies that refer more to the integration of technology and Islamic education. This research focuses on madrasah management strategies through the Madrasah Reform program.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a case study research design that focuses attention on strategic aspects of developing madrasah through the Madrasah Reform program. The informants in this study were 18 people consisting of three madrasah heads from Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI), Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs) and Madrasah Aliyah (MA), five teachers and 10 students. Data collection in this study used in-depth and semi-structured interviews with madrasah heads and teachers regarding the implementation of the Madrasah Reform program and also regarding madrasah management strategies at three levels of education.FindingsThis study shows that the strategy of managing madrasahs through the Madrasah Reform program in three madrasahs in Indonesia has had a positive impact on improving the quality of madrasahs, although there are still aspects that require development.Research limitations/implicationsThis research implies that the quality of madrasah in the digital era is determined by management strategies based on the use of educational technology.Practical implicationsThis program has implications for the development of the quality of human resources in educational institutions, especially in relation to digital literacy among students and teaching staff. The use of digital technology, which is one of the main projections of the Madrasah Reform program, is continuously able to change the face of education in a more modern direction, both in terms of governance and the learning process, so that the output of this program, especially what occurs at Madrasah Madani, is significant development in the aspects of digital literacy and technology. Which is the main criterion in facing a digital-based educational context.Social implicationsFor a policy aspect, the success of the Madrasah Reform program at Madrasah Madani can be used as a blueprint or model for implementing this program in Islamic educational institutions, specifically Madrasas in South Sulawesi and in general at Madrasas throughout Indonesia.Originality/valueThis proves that Madrasah Reform program is a program that can be implemented in madrasahs to improve the quality of madrasah management in the digital era while continuing to carry out simultaneous improvements and evaluations of the program.

Çolak, İbrahim

2024 International Journal of Educational Management

doi: 10.1108/ijem-05-2023-0241

This research sought to document the volume, development trend and geographical distribution of the research on teacher autonomy, identify high-impact journals, authors and documents and reveal the intellectual structure of the field.Design/methodology/approachThis paper analyzed the articles published on the related subject in the Web of Science (WoS) and/or Scopus. Based on certain exclusion criteria, analyses were conducted on a total of 259 articles. The data were then subjected to descriptive analyses and bibliometric analyses.FindingsThe review found that the teacher autonomy knowledge base has grown dramatically since 2004. In the co-citation analysis, it was determined that four clusters focused on the themes of professionalism and professional development, leadership and self-efficacy, autonomy in language teaching and learning and self-determination theory. According to the co-word analysis in this review, the most co-occurring keywords were revealed to be “teacher autonomy,” “autonomy,” “teachers,” “teacher professionalism” and “professional development.”Originality/valueDespite increasing numbers of systematic reviews focusing on educational administration and leadership, this paper represents the first bibliometric review conducted to reveal the development of research on teacher autonomy using both the WoS and Scopus databases. Teacher autonomy can be regarded as an emerging field of study backed up by a theoretical background. Although there are some distinct prominent scholars in the research area, autonomy research still needs more scholars to specialize in the field.

Alkalash, Ibrahim; Alkalash, Mohammad

2024 International Journal of Educational Management

doi: 10.1108/ijem-12-2023-0606

This research seeks to highlight school partnerships as an approach to improving schools and halting the deterioration of their performance in an environment that has suffered from the consequences of conflict for more than a decade.Design/methodology/approachThe research used the qualitative method, and the data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 school leaders and teachers.FindingsThe results showed the presence of positive attitudes toward inter-school partnerships and their perception of many benefits, the most prominent of which was increasing social cohesion in school and surrounding communities that suffer from divisions resulting from conflict. A set of obstacles includes legislative obstacles, a low degree of autonomy, low competency of school leaders, a lack of trust and incentives.Originality/valueThis study proposes a range of solutions to address the challenges associated with building partnerships. The research emphasizes the significance the school-to-school partnerships and their positive role in improving the performance of schools in developing countries, especially in environments suffering from the consequences of civil wars and social divisions.

Sothinathan, Jayanti S.; Adams, Donnie; Mohd Radzi, Norfariza

2024 International Journal of Educational Management

doi: 10.1108/ijem-01-2024-0057

Middle leadership is difficult to define and fathom as these roles are fluid, adapting to the context of individual schools. However, little is known about the relationships among middle leadership, teacher commitment and job satisfaction in the field of education. The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework on the mediating role of teacher job satisfaction in the relationship between middle leadership and teacher commitment in schools based on past research, particularly in the context of schools.Design/methodology/approachA review of literature was undertaken to develop the conceptual framework.FindingsFindings suggested that middle leadership can positively influence teacher commitment via the mediating effect of teacher job satisfaction.Originality/valueThe value of this paper lies in understanding middle leadership as a salient factor in influencing teacher commitment via teacher job satisfaction. This paper’s framework lays a strong foundation for the expansion of the middle leadership knowledge base on middle leadership as well as for future theory development and debate.

Avolio, Beatrice; Chávez Cajo, Jessica Marleny

2024 International Journal of Educational Management

doi: 10.1108/ijem-02-2023-0082

This phenomenological study, conducted within the discourse on the underrepresentation of women in academia, examined the factors influencing the advancement of women academics in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).Design/methodology/approachThe sample comprised twenty-one women academics from both public and private universities in Peru. Data were collected through in-depth interviews based on the women's experiences and subsequently processed using Moustakas’ (1994) stages for encoding, categorization, and analysis.FindingsThe study introduces a conceptual framework of nine factors – personal tastes and preferences, attitudes towards science as a vocation, care work, work–life balance, congruent gender roles, occupational segregation, lack of opportunities, low salaries, and lack of gender equality policies – that impact the career progression of women in STEM fields.Originality/valueThe results offer valuable insights for policymakers and academic authorities to address the barriers affecting women academics in STEM. The uniqueness of this paper lies in its investigation in Peru, a country with the highest female labor force participation in Latin America, where women constitute the majority of undergraduate program graduates.

Butcher, Luke; Sung, Billy; Cheah, Isaac

2024 International Journal of Educational Management

doi: 10.1108/ijem-11-2023-0562

For business and management higher education (HE) to transition graduates to digital workplaces and careers, it’s crucial they develop competencies (digital and traditional, soft and technical, new and old) that are relevant and applicable.Design/methodology/approachInsights are obtained from 60 comprehensive interviews with HE business students, educators and industry practitioners.FindingsSix synergistic competencies are described that leverage synergies of (often) divergent competencies in the digital age of business, integrating them with a recently emerged multi-disciplinary competency framework. Each synergy states its target application, purpose and is aligned with specific HE practices.Originality/valueScholarship of competencies is re-oriented away from clusters and towards synergies, with a new inter-disciplinary competency framework validated to business in the digital age, with directions provided for HE.

Kulal, Abhinandan; Dinesh, Sahana; Abhishek, N.; Anchan, Ajaya

2024 International Journal of Educational Management

doi: 10.1108/ijem-03-2024-0166

The transformative impact of digital innovations on education has reshaped academic landscapes, affecting both instructional methods and evaluation systems. This study delves into the realm of distance education, exploring the intricate dynamics of digital access, equity and inclusivity, with a particular focus on their influence on learning outcomes.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive survey involving 360 participants was conducted to gather data on various facets of the digital learning environment. Descriptive statistics illuminated participants' perceptions, while digital access disparities were analyzed through a chi-square test. Structural equation modelling (SEM) assessed direct relationships, mediation and moderation analyses and elucidated the nuanced influence of demographic parameters.FindingsDescriptive analysis revealed generally positive perceptions of digital learning, with some variability in aspects like accessibility of learning materials and Internet connectivity. Digital access disparities were evident across demographic parameters, highlighting significant associations with gender, education, income, geographic location, religious affiliation and field of study. SEM indicated robust positive associations between digital access and learning outcomes, strategies for enhancing equity and inclusivity and their combined impact on overall academic success.Originality/valueThis study contributes original insights by comprehensively analyzing the interplay of digital access, equity and inclusivity in distance education and their impact on learning outcomes. The research unveils nuanced disparities across demographic dimensions, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. The study’s integration of SEM, mediation and moderation analyses adds a sophisticated layer to the understanding of these relationships.

Dadon-Golan, Zehorit; BenDavid-Hadar, Iris; Tsidkany, Reut

2024 International Journal of Educational Management

doi: 10.1108/ijem-12-2023-0602

First, to analyze the relationships between school effectiveness, as expressed in the improvement gained in academic achievements, and school structure; and second, to analyze the relationships between school effectiveness and school features (e.g. ethnicity, SES, rural vs. central location, class size, prior achievements, and per-student allocation) and to measure their contribution to the explained variation in school effectiveness.Design/methodology/approachResearch on school effectiveness emphasizes the examination of school characteristics that have been found to contribute more to promoting school outcomes. Therefore, by using regression models the purpose of the research is twofold.FindingsThe research findings reveal positive significant relationships between school effectiveness, and students' prior achievements, and SES. However, school effectiveness is less related to school structure.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research in the field of school effectiveness should extend beyond solely focusing on academic achievements and include the evaluation of broader aspects of students' development, such as values and self-esteem. Recognizing the multifaceted nature of schools, it is crucial to incorporate additional variables into ongoing research efforts to provide a more comprehensive understanding of overall school effectiveness. Moreover, considering the diverse stakeholders involved in the educational process, including parents, teachers, principals, and the community, future studies should strive to examine the collective impact of these factors on school effectiveness. However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of our study. Our research is constrained by a specific sample size, which may limit the generalizability of our findings. We assert that future studies with larger and more diverse sample sizes would strengthen the validity and significance of our results, allowing for broader implications and insights into enhancing school effectiveness.Originality/valueThis research holds significant importance in understanding the relationships between school effectiveness, school structure, and various school features in the context of Israeli primary schools. By examining the impact of school structure on academic achievements and exploring the contributions of other school-related factors, this study provides insights into the dynamics of educational effectiveness for educational stakeholders.

Straková, Jana; Simonová, Jaroslava

2024 International Journal of Educational Management

doi: 10.1108/ijem-07-2023-0361

This study aims to supplement the international knowledge on factors determining retention in the teaching profession with findings from the Czech Republic. The study aims to answer the question of what factors on the part of schools and teachers are related to teachers’ decision to leave the teaching profession, either temporarily or permanently. It also examines the differences between teachers at the beginning and end of their professional careers.Design/methodology/approachThis study presents a secondary analysis of the data collected in a survey of 1,230 Czech secondary school teachers implemented in 2021 in the same schools as the TALIS survey in 2018. The longitudinal design makes it possible to observe the impact of school variables on teachers’ willingness to remain in the profession. Data are analysed through logistic regression.FindingsThe analysis shows the importance of sufficient financial evaluation, the composition of the student body, instructional leadership, and school innovativeness for the retention of teachers in the profession. The analysis further shows that the factors causing teachers to leave the profession differ for those at the beginning and at the end of their teaching careers.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of the study lie in the fact that this is a secondary analysis. The questionnaires were not designed in accordance with the aim of our study, and so the variables were constructed from existing data to best fit our chosen framework.Practical implicationsThe results of our analysis indicate that the Czech education policy should focus not only on general increases in teachers’ salaries, but also on the adjustment of increases over the course of a teacher’s career. The starting salary may be important for retaining young teachers in the profession, while at later stages in their careers their decision to stay may be more influenced by other factors. Our research also showed the importance of leadership. In schools where the principal supports his or her teachers and takes care of their professional development, teachers have a greater tendency to stay in the profession than in schools where the management does not perform this function.Originality/valueThe study enriched international knowledge about factors affecting teachers' retention in the profession with findings from the Czech educational system characterized by high school autonomy and low teacher salaries.