Date of Award

6-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Education (MEd)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Dr. Hasan Esaa AI Khamiri

Second Advisor

Dr. Ali S. Ibrahim

Third Advisor

Dr.shaikhah Al tenaiji

Abstract

This study aimed at identifying the extent of instructional leadership practices inn Al Ain government schools as perceived by teachers. The practices that this study investigated are related to five domains: school goals, supervision, curriculum, student performance, and professional development.

This study was guided by three research questions and used both quantitative and qualitative analysis in identifying the extent of instructional leadership. Data for this study were collected through a survey using a likert scale. It was sent to 644 teachers in Al Ain public schools who taught in different grade levels. Teachers selected were males and females, from different age group, years of experience and qualifications; and they were UAE national and foreign teachers.

Statistical tests include means, percentages and standard deviations. One-way ANOVA test was used to analyze the quantitative part of the questionnaire. The answers to the open-ended questions in the last part of the questionnaire was analyzed qualitatively. Only four principals of different genders, ages, years of experience, and educational backgrounds were interviewed. The aim of interviews was to know their perceptions about the extent of instructional leadership according to five domains.

The results of this study showed opposite views from both sides. Teachers in Al Ain schools perceive their principal instructional leadership as highly existent whereas the views of the teachers in the interviews as positive. Further, the results also revealed that female principals tend to manage schools far better than the male principals do.

Finally, what the school principals need was motivation to adopt leadership practices, training by professionals who can understand their situation better, colleagues who can share experiences and follow up with them and show them how and when to apply the leadership practices effectively.

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