Development of a Leadership Model for Islamic School Leaders in Thailand

Abstract

This study focuses on establishing an effective leadership model for Islamic schools in Thailand as Islamic students in general place lower on National standardized testing than others. As a school leader plays the key role of the school success and the improvement of the students’ achievement, a proper leadership model for Islamic schools should be developed to enhance their quality and students’ achievement. Therefore, there is a need to generate a leadership model for leader in Islamic schools. Effective leadership in Islamic school involves the cooperation of Islamic values and principles in leadership practices and behaviors. Also, educational leadership theories and research in Western perspectives is essential in order to gain and retain the good standards. Theories and concepts from Western and Islamic perspectives should be taking into the consideration

An overarching question for this study is “What elements will comprise an effective leadership model for Islamic school leaders in Thailand?” The objectives of research are: 1. To examine the specific dimensions of effective educational leadership in Islamic perspective 2. To examine the specific dimensions of effective educational leadership in Western theories and research. 3. To ascertain the specific dimensions of leadership found to be the most prominent in the most effective Islamic schools in Thailand. 4. To determine the specific dimensions of leadership found to be the most practice by Islamic school leaders in Thailand. 5. To develop and validate a leadership model for Islamic school leaders in Thailand.

In this research, Leadership practice inventory questionnaires were distributed to all 297 Islamic school directors in Thailand and 209 completed questionnaires were used in the analysis of data by using Statistic Package. When the collected data interpretation and data analysis were achieved, the researcher used these findings and the elements from documentary research as the grounds for developing a leadership model for  Islamic schools in Thailand. The proposed model are developed and confirmed by a committee of experts using the connoisseurship model.