A Study of Self Perceptions of Leadership Role of the Secondary Schools Heads towards the Improvement of Standard of Education Submitted by: Khair Muhammad Khan Enrolment No. 03-Ph.D-084 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education at the University Of Education, Lahore i Dedication This dissertation is dedicated with love and affection to the person who have impacted my life profoundly. My Parents Abdul Rashid Khan & Mrs. Shama-un- Nisa Khanum, who instilled in me a passion for reading and learning as well as the determination to succeed. My Wife Sanjeeda Akhter, who have always been supportive, encouraging and understanding of my efforts to achieve various goals. My Dear Kids Who are always an incredible source of joy and happiness for me. ii Approval Sheet Title of Thesis: A Study of Self Perceptions of Leadership Role of the Secondary Schools Heads Towards The Improvement of Standard of Education Name of Student:--------------------------------Khair Muhammad Khan Accepted by the Division of thesis examination committee, University of Education, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Doctor of Philosophy in (Education) with specialization in Secondary Education. Thesis Examination Committee. __________________________ Director __________________________ External Examiner __________________________ Supervisor __________________________ Member __________________________ Member iii Abstract The present research entitled a study of self perceptions of leadership role of the secondary schools heads towards the improvement of standard of education. This study was designed to check the efficiency of secondary schools heads belonging to Punjab province. Title: A study of self perceptions of leadership role of the secondary schools heads towards the improvement of standard of education Pages: 141 Researcher: Khair Muhammad Khan Roll No. 084 Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ehsan-Ullah Khan (Ex. Director I.E.R. Punjab University, Lahore) University: University of Education, Lahore. Year: 2007 Subject area: Education Degree: Ph.D The objectives of the study were to evaluate the efficiency of schools heads with their attributes (age, administrative experience, professional, qualification, staff strength, budgeting, financing). The study also focused on the efficiency of students performance, teachers out put and dealing with various groups. Assumptions were formulated using sample survey, data regarding attributes, situational factors were collected from 200 schools heads through demographic variable information performa (DVIP). Data regarding thesis were obtained through questionnaire of leadership behavior analysis. iv The questionnaire was responded by 181 schools heads (urban male 50) (urban female 48) (rural male 40) (rural female 43) opinion was sought on 5 point rating scale (Likert Scale). Most of the statements given in questionnaire were accepted by all the respondents. No significant different among the perception of head teachers was seen and all the respondents accepted the problems related to teaching staff and other physical facilities. Lack of communication friction among staff, political pressure, substandard equipment, curricular and co-curricular activities centralization of power, lack of proper supervision, lack of cooperation from localities, unsatisfactory instructional material, It was revealed that senior heads in age were less flexible and more effective in their assigned work. The study also explored that the heads with higher professional qualifications were more efficient. The study further indicated that the performance of the teachers of those institutions where schools heads applied sharing leadership style was significantly higher than those of the teachers working under the other leadership style i.e. telling, selling and delegating. The situational approach recognized the effective leadership is more complex than that captured by the trait as behaviour approach. The study revealed that effective management contributes to effective education. schools heads are important components in education system and their leadership style is one of the stimulants to make the system more effective. This research, assessed the efficiency of the heads. The study provides information whether the schools heads modify their leadership style according to the maturity level and also remains a source of inspiration for the practicing educators. The study provides guide lines for deciding v alternative courses of action for improving the standard and quality of education through school heads as they have perceived and they are considered first time leaders. Of course management competencies of schools heads are directly related to school improvement. This study describes that gender of the heads did not effect the school effectiveness, while professional qualification of school heads and management courses attended by school heads were more supportive for improving school education system. Keeping in view the findings of the study in-service training programme should be designed for schools heads, included objectives of programme, content for management training, training methodologies, evaluation procedure and tentative schedule of training programme should be improved. It is hoped that conclusion of this research will be helpful in future planning of education policies in Pakistan. It is not a final conclusion however, future researchers can use this as a beginning point for their research. vi Forwarding Sheet The thesis entitled A Study of Self Perceptions of Leadership Role of The Secondary Schools Heads Towards Improvement of Standard of Education, submitted by Khair Muhammad Khan in partial fulfillment of Ph.D. degree in (Discipline) Education with specialization in (where applicable) education has been completed under my guidance and supervision. I am satisfied with the quality of student’s research work. Signature: Name: Prof. Dr. Ehsan-Ullah Khan (Ex. Director I.E.R. P.U. LHR) vii Declaration I Khair Muhammad Khan Son of: Abdul Rashid Khan Registration No. 03-Ph.D-084 a student of Ph.D at the University of Education, do hereby solemnly declare that the thesis entitled A Study of Self Perceptions of Leadership Role of the Secondary Schools Heads Towards the Improvement o f Standard Of Education submitted by me in partial fulfillment of Ph.D. degree (in discipline) Education is my original work, except where otherwise acknowledged in the text, and has not been submitted or published earlier and shall not, in future, be submitted by me for obtaining any degree from this or any other University or Institution. Dated: June, 2007 Signature: ______________________ Name: _________________________ viii Acknowledgement All praises and humble thanks to Allah Almighty the most gracious and merciful and to the Prophet, Hadrat Muhammad (PBUH) who bestowed in researcher the potential and courage to undertake this study. The researcher is highly indebted to his respected and sympathetic supervisor Prof. Dr. Ehsan-Ullah Khan for constant encouragement, guidance refinement and sympathetic suggestions. It was his helping, suggestive inspiring and motivational attitude which made the completion of this study possible. The researcher owes a special debt of gratitude to professor Dr. Mahr Muhammad Saeed Akhtar for his valuable review and guidance to render the thesis bilingual error free. The researcher is also grateful to Muhammad Iqbal Chand and Dr. Zahid Mahmood in locating relevant material for completion of this thesis. Words cannot adequately express the gratitude I have for my beloved father Abdul Rashid Khan (Late) and my dear mother Shama-un-Nisa Khanum, they had strong desired to see me as a writer which I have fulfilled. The researcher is indebted to all his well wishers who dedicatedly spent their precious time, during this study, particularly. Special appreciation goes to my beloved better half and off springs who provided me time for completion of this endeavour. Khair Muhammd Khan ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Sr. Topic Page No. No. 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Statement of the problem 13 1.2 Significance of the study 13 1.3 Objectives of the study 14 1.4 Assumptions 15 1.5 Delimitations of the study 16 1.6 Population 16 1.7 Sample 16 1.8 Sampling method 16 1.9 Tool for research 16 1.10 Admiration of tool 17 2 Review of related literature 18 2.1 Goal approach 26 2.2 System resource ability of children approach 27 2.3 Planning 35 2.4 Organizing 35 2.5 Leading 35 2.6 Controlling 35 2.7 Trait Approach 36 2.8 Behavior Approach 39 2.9 The Ohio State University 40 2.10 The University of Michigan 41 x 2.11 The Managerial Grid 41 2.12 Situational Theories 42 2.13 The Fielder’s Contingency theory 42 2.14 The leadership decision making model 44 2.15 Hersey and Blanchard's Situational Theory 46 2.16 The four basic leadership styles 46 2.17 Substitutes for Leadership 47 2.18 Path goal theory of leadership 48 2.18,1 Path element 54 2.18 ,2 Goal element 55 2.19 Predictions of Path-Goal theory 57 2.20 Effects of directive Leadership 57 2.21 Effects of supportive leadership 59 2.22 Effects of participative leadership 59 2.23 Effects of achievement oriented leadership 61 2.24 Variables of path goal theory 62 2.25 Leadership behaviour 63 3 Methodology 66 3.1 Research Design 66 3.2 Population 66 3.3 Sample Size 67 3.4 Sampling Method 67 3.5 Instrument for the study 67 3.6 Validation of the instrument 68 3.7 Administration of the questionnaire 68 xi 3.8 Reliability 68 3.9 Validity 68