Strategic Leadership's Impact on School Performance in Maldives

This report investigates the impact of strategic leadership by secondary school principals, the level of visionary capacity, and the pedagogical skills of teachers on the low performance of secondary school leavers in Male', Republic of Maldives. The study explores the background of the problem, including the context of the Maldivian education system, the decline in academic performance, and the influence of vocational programs. It examines the conceptual framework, research questions, significance, and limitations of the study. The research design, population, sampling, instrumentation, data collection, handling, and analysis methods are also outlined. The report emphasizes the importance of leadership qualities of principals and teachers in achieving better student outcomes. The research aims to provide insights into how strategic leadership and teacher skills can address the challenges of low performance and improve the overall quality of education.

Running head : THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF
VISIONARY CAPACITY AND PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY
SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’, REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
The Impact of Strategic Leadership of Secondary School Principals, Level of Visionary
Capacity and Pedagogical Skills of Teachers on the Low Performance of Secondary School
Leavers in Male’, Republic of Maldives
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF VISIONARY CAPACITY AND
PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’,
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
Table of Contents
1. BACKGROUND OF STUDY............................................................................................3
2. PROBLEM STATEMENT.................................................................................................9
3. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE STUDY.....................................................11
4. PURPOSE AS WELL AS OBJECTIVES ASSOCIATED WITH STUDY....................14
5. RESEARCH QUESTIONS..............................................................................................15
6. SIGNIFICANCE ASSOCIATED WITH STUDY...........................................................16
7. DEFINITION OF VARIOUS TERMS ON OPERATION..............................................18
8. DELIMITATIONS PRESENT IN THE STUDY.............................................................22
9. RESEARCH DESIGN......................................................................................................23
10. POPULATION AND SAMPLING....................................................................................26
11. INSTRUMENTATION......................................................................................................30
12. DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES............................................................................32
13. DATA HANDLING PROCEDURES................................................................................33
14. DATA ANALYSIS METHODS........................................................................................34
15. CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................35
16. REFERENCE LIST...........................................................................................................37

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF VISIONARY CAPACITY AND
PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’,
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
1. BACKGROUND OF STUDY
The prime objective of any country is to attain sustainable development. For certain
countries, it is desirable that growth in the economy shall not be always aiming at a particular
factor for example achievement of sustainability. Growth in the economy stays in line with
various factors associated with growth in terms of production that may involve capital, land
as well as labour. Therefore the study encompasses various factors associated with economic
growth and it makes involvement of various factors that enriches this growth process.
Multiple reasons are involved behind these factors and the most important among these is that
it helpsin increasing human labour towards process of economic growth. In accordance to
endogenous investment in growth theory towards human capital, various sorts of innovation
as well as knowledge have a significant contribution towards growth in the economy.
Through accumulation of human capital associated with economic growth it is necessary to
pose aggregate demand towards various goods as well as services. In addition, human
resources is usually termed as the most important factor for production in association with
physical resources at the level of nation. Therefore it can be stated that performance factors
associated with human resources that is mostly delivery of quality education from various
schools can be termed as a condition as well as consequence that lead to economic growth as
well as sustainability.
It is a matter of great concern for educational experts as well as stakeholders as poor quality
of performance in academics lead to rise of school dropouts every year in a city known as
Male that is capital city of Maldives, consecutively since last four to five decades. According
to the views given by stakeholders, performance in academics has gone down and it is hardly
showing any improvement for these years.Coming to the fact of national budget allocation, it
usually does not allow exceeding of budget more than that of 10% of entire budget associated

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF VISIONARY CAPACITY AND
PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’,
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
with nation and this does not help in creation of any type of constructive result that would
help to meet all those expectations of that of makers of policy as well as stakeholders.
Education system in Maldives was growing at the time when it was undergoing colonization
from the rulers of Great Britain as they were mostly ruling over Indian Ocean. In that period
of time education system was receiving influence due to levelof education that was prevailing
in UK. In today’s program it has been discovered that education system that is prevailing in
English medium schools is abiding by the standards of GCSE, GCE or IGCSE as well as
similar type of vocational qualifications at the international level like B.Tech and all. In
addition certain programs at the level of introduction for example STEP program, programs
on DHASVAARU as well as UFA are the most common vocational programs that have been
introduced at new level in education program and this is thought as an alternative method to
education at mainstream level of secondary schools. It is mostly believed by majority of
experts that results at the level of GCE O’, GCSE or IGCSE have been undergoing regression
instead of any sort of progression although several initiatives have been undertaken by Male
government in recent years. As a result of promotion of several vocational programs like
B.Tech or Dhasvaaru as well as other programs have helped to improve the performance of
pupils from their eighth grade. It can be predicted that even if thousands of students are being
absorbed into mainstream education of those secondary schools, it would be unable to yield
desired results as education does not receive regular update or is revised accordingly.
Maximum parents as well as stakeholders believe that secondary students usually dropout
from mainstream education due to introduction of new layers in secondary education. Such
new level introduction of programs do not help towards commensuration of results as that of
Ordinary Level results of GCSE, IGCSE as well as GCE therefore students who dropout from
their secondary education programs feel demotivated as they do not find the appropriate way
to walk up the stairs in their career path that would have lead them to the path of success.

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF VISIONARY CAPACITY AND
PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’,
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
Therefore they do not get a chance to achieve the degree from a recognized university.
Therefore, as a result of this, basic criteria in order to qualify for a job interview remain
unfulfilled and students feel helpless. The final result might be that objectives of these
secondary school dropouts remain unachieved. They do not get enough opportunity to pursue
higher studies via Advanced Level since the criteria for entry into further level require a
minimum scoring offive C grades as well as above in some of the compulsory subjects like
Islam, Mathematics, Dhivehi as well as English and secondary students do not receive
enough privilege or support to sit for their final examinations on GCE Ordinary Level, GCSE
as well as IGCSE and thus the objectives associated with curriculum framework at national
level fail to achieve. They lack their chances in either aspects that is they cannot bear
competition in terms of employment with other such students in the country or in
accomplishment of mainstream education.
An important point is that students who are taking admission for various vocational
programs, it must be known to the higher authority of educational institutes that theymay or
may not possess general degree of education like the ones who were able to pass GCE O’
Level. Changes that are taking place in these types of policy levels might prove to be harmful
for pupils of upcoming generations if appropriate measures are not considered within time
and this might lead to many of them leaving the path of acquiring forms of education at
mainstream level. As a result of this, pupils will lack religious, societal, family, economic as
well as personal values in their lives as main textbooks that are associated with Islam, English
language, Dhivehi or Mathematicsoften talk about. A student who takes admission for
learning various vocational modules are usually debarred of their right to sit for final level
examinations for IGCSE O’ Level in order to put an effort over maximizing performance at
academic level for secondary school dropouts in the Male Republic of that of Maldives.
Teachersat schools as well as parents of these students throughout the country are now

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF VISIONARY CAPACITY AND
PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’,
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
concerned over low performance as this would lead to have a negative impact up on the
nation at large and serious consequences might have to be faced due this.
Taking into account most of the important factors, it is necessary to understand what actually
stakeholders are trying to suggest, the reason behind the situations turning into so much of
grieve as well as furthercausesdue to whichheads of various schools, people holding
leadership positions at these institutions as well as policy makers are not heading towards
bringing change to such situations. Many viewers of this situation held the principals of these
schools, people in leadership positions to be responsible for current situation since majority
of leadership as well as management plan for resources have turned to be failure in recent
past and no immediate actions were taken, as it has been complained by guardians as well as
educational consultants.However since lack of necessary improvements in the field of
performance at secondary school level has been the rising concern among public therefore
this situation has received attention in recent times. If most of the principals, employees
holding leadership positions as well as teachers are not doing sufficient enough to meet
expectation standards of parents as well as society, it proves to be meaningless on spending
large amount of national budget for education sector as it does not turn out to be an
investment at long- term level for overall development of nation.
In addition to all these problems, students who are not exposed to fundamental values that are
associated with this secondary- level education system create negative feeling at multiplied
times on the society and this also have a serious impact on their personal lives. Students who
are not accepted at any societal levels form gangs, make certain cliques and form crowds at
certain places therefore it leads to increased societal costs and give rise to vandalism within
the society. These existing thoughts in the society among needs of individuals require a
strong as well as consolidated speech on education that would be able to convince everyone
through an informational source that would prove to be reliable. Before this period, no such

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF VISIONARY CAPACITY AND
PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’,
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
researches have been done based on academic particularly in relation to this topic. Therefore
it has become utmost important to conduct an academic research that would be robust in
nature and shall abide by high level of authenticity as well as reliability.
Beliefs of principals, values as well as leadership play an instrumental role while determining
ability to practice as well as to perform (Bredeson, et al 2011). Decision making of principals
as well as behaviour associated with leadership have an effect on core community of that of
school and also on outcome of students (Hallinger& Heck, 1996; Hausman et al., 2000).
There have been two different strands that revolves round this issue associated with
controversy based on leadership quality of principals whether it affects the performance of
students or not. One particular strand claims the fact that leadership associated with principals
plays a critical role over achievement of success through undertaking such educational
courses by pupils who would secure better performance (Cladwell, 1992; Eckholm, 1992;
Heck, 1993; Cheng, 1994). This particular theory has also been supported by some of the
famous persons (Gross &Herriott, 1965; Keeler & Andrews, 1963; Carrier & Duck, 1978).
On the other side, it has also been commented by some of the known persons that there is no
effect of principals over schooling and there is no clear fact on that (Firestone & Herriot,
1982; Van de Grift, 1990).
In addition to achieve better performance from the side of secondary schools, the most
important thing that has to be taken under consideration is leadership quality possessed by
principals. The primary effect of leadership quality of that of Principals on the several
achievements of students was successful in drawing attention at international level since long
time back. York- Barr and Duke (2005), leadership quality of teachers both individually as
well as collectively help in influencing subordinates, many colleagues and various other
representatives of school community that also plays an important role in improvement of

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF VISIONARY CAPACITY AND
PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’,
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
teaching as well as practices towards learning with an objective of increasing school level
performance of students.
Through extensive research based on hypothetical models, this formulation will help in
providing a guidance towards understanding various effects due to strategic leadership,
arbitrating factors that would improve capabilities of organization, characteristics associated
with personal level, capacity of vision of several teachersas well as skills at pedagogical level
on various academic performances associated with secondary schools and school dropouts of
Male, that is the Republic of city Maldives. This particular research shall identify
determinants associated with performance at school level in Male and this will further assist
Ministries of secondary Education that is situated in Maldives to set a concern over
improvement of academic performances for pupils in Male. This particular research shall lay
down a roadmap for various policy makers as well as school principals who would make
strategic plans on improvement of education systems in the region of Male.

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF VISIONARY CAPACITY AND
PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’,
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
2. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Education is still considered as an emerging form in the industry with mainly a focus up on
academics related performance since education is the ultimatum that renders a student skills,
ability to adapt to a new working environment as well as necessary manners that would help
him or her to grow dynamically in the market in terms of technology as well as business
(Hijazi& Naqvi, 2006). In addition, according to the views of teachers (Katzenmeyer&
Moller, 2001) it is said that qualities associated with leadership have brought several
differences in activities associated with teaching as well as learning outcomes in various
schools. Therefore demand associated with better performance in several schools can help to
achieve best qualities of leadership for school heads.
Unfortunately it has been the matter of fact that performance level in secondary schools
situated in Maldives especially during the examinations of IGCSE, SSC or GCSE have been
going down although they have adopted strong policies that would facilitate quality standards
in education. It has proved to be evident as per the statistics associated with Ministry of
secondary Education that takes into account those students who dropout from their studies
and states that only 45% among the pupils can crack nation based target level with a pass “C”
grade or above in five subjects minimum out of total eight. Moreover secondary schools that
are situated in Male are also showing lower performance in certain other aspects in the field
of education. According to statistics that remain mostly unpublished have been examined by
Juvenile Justice Unit (JJU), a legislative body run by Ministries associated with Home Affairs
and it has been found that near about 6% among school students have been discovered to be
drug- addicted according to the cases in year 2016 and several others have been discovered to
have involved in unethical anti-social activities. This goes against the values that have been

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF VISIONARY CAPACITY AND
PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’,
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
shared by National Curriculum Framework (NCF), an organization that talks about spreading
of social harmony, peace as well as necessary security measures.
The basic objective of that of NCFis mainly to build a challenging environment that would
increase the productivity of youth and this would maintain a parallel path with that of
economic agenda that has been set by respected President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom,
under whose guidance the organization will help to deliberate qualified workforce with
necessary skills that would be able to meet industrial standards and also yield development
towards nation. This particular policy was mainly introduced to fill up the deficit due to lack
of effective sustainable programs in past years. Years passed 2009, it became necessary to
build sustainable development of human resources therefore Government bodies of Maldives
initiated a policy that would head towards professional development in order to impart
sufficient skills to various employees at professional level and this mainly included teachers
as well as school leaders. Development of programs at professional level did not turn out to
be successful due to many reasons for example lack of appropriate policies that could have
been adopted accordingly and this would have helped in paving several pathways that would
lead to successful implementation of policy. Stigma associated with lower performance
specifically at secondary school level has helped in pointing out at less generation of capital
due to unskilled labour force and some unproductive sections of society that is mostly
misusing government expenditure on education sector.
Panacea associated with the problems behind low performance on behalf students from these
secondary schools is required to be identified. It is responsibility of educators as well as
researchers to address the factors behind poor performances in academics in secondary
schools of Male through holding specific researches on certain issues for example
effectiveness associated with leadership qualities of school principals, inadequate teaching as
well as learning materials, good pedagogical skills and expertise that ensures level of quality

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF VISIONARY CAPACITY AND
PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’,
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
of teachers, eradicating juvenile delinquencies in schools, enforcement of high reward or
remuneration packages and increasing motivation of advisors who would help to improve
discipline as well as increase community participation from these schools. Also authorities
must keep a check on the activities of leaders whether they are using quality styles of
leadership while exercising them that would have an effect on utilization as well as
management of various resources towards attainment of sufficiency in terms of growth in
academic performance in secondary schools.
Therefore this particular study throws light up on investigation on the impacts due to strategic
leadership adopted by principals in secondary schools, levels associated with visionary
capacity as well as pedagogical skills possessed by teachers that is helping in uplifting the
performance of school dropouts in Male, the republic capital of Maldives. It has decided over
the fact that there might be a possibility due to other such factors that may have a tremendous
impact up on academic performance associated with secondary schools situated in Male.
3. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE STUDY
This particular segment is going to present a discussion on conceptual framework associated
with study that helps in guiding as well as explaining various relationships that exist between
several independent variables, the mediating variables as well as dependent variables
associated with this research. This particular framework also plays a significant role in
determining other possible factors that would be going to have either direct or indirect effect
on the outcome.
Experts also believe that individual capacity helping in contributing towards overall
capabilities of the organization that has direct impact on various outcomes of that particular
institution. Top managing authorities of any educational institute always have an effect up on
the middle as well as bottom management authorities. Most of their actions usually get

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LEVEL OF VISIONARY CAPACITY AND
PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OF TEACHERS ON THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS IN MALE’,
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
impacted due to strategic styles of leadership, various characteristics on demographics,
capabilities associated with organization, characteristics at personal level, styles on
leadership, and exact capacities due to visionincluding technical skills, experience and
knowledge at various levels. All such factors have a tremendous impact up on behaviour of
pupils that has a further impact on performance of the organization. Therefore relationship
mapping that exists between strategic leadership ability and poor performance of that of
school dropouts, knowledge that is mostly strategy based, wisdom as well as experiences
possessed by school principals will have an impact on academic performances associated
with that school. In addition, capabilities of organization, various characteristics at personal
level, capacity of vision of that of teachers as well as other pedagogical skills shall have
tremendous effect on academic performance associated with any school.
Leadership acts as the second most factor that is vital just after quality of teaching that pupils
receive in their schools have a substantial impact on their performance. It has to be an idea
and that would be universally acceptable by certain schools who want an improvement
towards performance of pupils shall also lay focus on leaders apart from the school teachers.
It is the responsibility of a leader at the school to set out particular directions towards
achievement of goal, establish necessary expectations and help in developing latent aptitude
that would help to increase level of teaching as well as learning in schools.
There are three particular practices that are utilized to create measurement of principal level
of leadership that would incorporate (a) laying focus up on mission, goals as well as vision of
school (b) laying support in terms of trust and establish collaboration in the school (c) laying
active support towards instructions as well as guidelines (Supovitz et al., 2010). In a similar
manner, Bryke et al., (2010) takes an active part in defining leadership that mostly
encompasses mission at the school level therefore helping to support instructions and
relationship of trust that exists between teacher as well as principal.