Modeling the Influence of Principal’s Leadership on Teachers’ Professional Learning in Governmental Schools in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the degree of principals' learning-centered leadership (PLCL) and teachers' professional learning (TPL) in governmental schools in Oman, then to modeling the effects of (PLCL) on (TPL) in governmental schools in Oman, through identify the level of this influence and compare the effects of the different dimensions of (PLCL) on (TPL). The study employed the quantitative approach using the structural equation modeling to analyze the data collected from a convenient sample of teachers (n=574) from government schools in the Sultanate of Oman. The study found that the practices of (PLCL) were at the high level for all its dimensions; while the "modeling" dimension came as the most practiced dimension, the "managing of learning program" dimension was the least. For the teacher’s professional learning also showed at high level for all dimensions (reflection, experimentation, collaboration and reach out to the knowledge base); while the experimentation dimension was the highest, reach out to the knowledge base was the least one. On the other hand, the study found a positive influence of the principal leadership on teacher professional learning; The source of that influence was from the two dimensions: “managing the learning program” and “building a learning vision”. The study presents a set of recommendations, such as recommending the implementation of structured programs to develop the skills of the school principal in support of teachers’ professional learning. Keywords: Learning-centered leadership, teacher professional learning, structural equation modeling, The Sultanate of Oman