The Effect Of School Principals' Leadership Styles On Students' Achievement At High Schools In Kandal Province,Cambodia

The responsibility and leadership styles of school principals have been considered as a very significant factor that has a great effect on students' achievement from the past,so in the present and future.This study presents a result that examines the role,responsibility and leadership style of three high school principals that affect students' achievement in Kandal province,Cambodia.The purpose of this study are:(1)to find out what leadership styles used by those principal(2)to examine in what ways school principals have great effect on students' achievement(3)to examine the relationship between principals' acquisition and allocation of teaching and learning resources and students' academic achievement.Three high school principals and fifteen teachers at selected schools were asked to participate in the data collection procedure.Data collection was done through interviewing using semistructured interviews,school observation,and students' result records.The results indicated that principals in the selected high school have used more than one leadership style and practice: transactional,transformational,instructional,and managerial leadership styles to manage their school due to different kinds of situations and issues.Besides,the results also illustrated the characteristics of leadership of those principals apart from the literature review: good personality,friendly,flexible,serious,honest,high commitment,strict,devoted,and visionary leader.Moreover,this study showed the principals and teachers' perception of school principals' leadership style and practice that influenced students' achievement both direct and indirect through upholding teachers' job satisfaction.The findings also revealed that even school principals did not have strong direct relationship with students;they did have great effect on students' achievement regardless of teachers' job satisfaction and school management strategies.Besides,it manifested some challenges encountered by principals,which hindered them from performing their duties effectively.Those challenges included workload,lack of capacity building,the low salary of teachers,and low budget provided.This research finding of good practice of school principals can be useful for all principals,researchers,policymakers and other relevant bodies.