Educational leadership preparation program for aspiring principals in Malaysia

Abstract

Effective leadership has been widely accepted as being the key constituents in securing school development. The intensity and complexity of the leadership role in today’s world of change warrants for effective leadership training to equip principals with the necessary knowledge, skills and expertise. Leadership preparation and development programs have been on the agenda across a number of countries. However, this recognition of the need for specific preparation for aspiring and practicing school leaders around the world has been slower to emerge. This is due to the fact that there is still an unwritten assumption that good teachers can become effective leaders without specific preparation. This is why in many countries including Malaysia, training is not a requirement for appointment as a principal. This review will focus on the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), the ‘sole’ training which is conducted by IAB for aspiring principals. A review of the strengths and weaknesses of the NPQH preparation program point towards the need to further evaluate the program. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide understanding of the importance of further investigation of the NPQH program in Malaysia in a wider perspective to ensure leadership effectiveness in schools.