The leadership styles of Hong Kong kindergarten principals in a context of managerial change

Abstract

Since the implementation of the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme (PEVS) in 2007, its built-in quality assurance mechanism has brought about subtle changes in the work relationship between kindergarten (KG) principals and teachers. The increasing demand for accountability and the call for improvement in the quality of pre-school education are altering the conventional practice of school management, which had been strongly affected by Chinese cultural values. In the meantime, the collaboration and teachers’ participation in making decisions in KGs, which are emphasized in the quality assurance mechanism of the PEVS, are influencing the leadership styles of KG principals in managing their staff. This article presents the findings on Hong Kong KG teachers’ perceptions of their principals’ leadership practices in the context of such managerial changes.