Strategic leadership, parental intention and behaviour for private education institutions in Klang Valley: An explanatory sequential research / Tan Shin Mei

Tan , Shin Mei (2024) Strategic leadership, parental intention and behaviour for private education institutions in Klang Valley: An explanatory sequential research / Tan Shin Mei. PhD thesis, Universiti Malaya.

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Abstract

The study focuses on private education in Malaysia, an area with limited research. As the number of private schools increases, it is essential to delve into how private school leadership, along with external factors such as parental beliefs, contributes to shaping parents' intentions and behavior regarding private schooling. This study also explores the role of socioeconomic backgrounds in moderating these intentions and behaviours among Chinese vernacular school parents. Additionally, the study examines the alignment of these findings with the perspectives of private school leaders, who serve as frontline figures in navigating the challenges of this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. The research design involves a mixed-method approach, which consists of 2 phases. The first phase of the study employed a quantitative survey design to gather perceptions and opinions from parents of standard six students in Chinese vernacular schools in Klang Valley using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) questionnaire. Second phase of the study conducted qualitative interviews with private school principals to gain their perspectives on the quantitative findings and their roles as strategic leaders. Quantitative analysis of the data uncovered that parents exhibit a heightened degree of behavioral belief, influenced significantly by the leadership within the school. Meanwhile, their normative belief stands at a lower level, and their control belief is situated at a moderate level. All three beliefs significantly influenced parents' intentions and behaviours toward private schooling, with control belief having the strongest impact. Moreover, the study found that household income moderates the relationship between parents' intentions and behaviours in private schooling. In the qualitative findings, it was discovered that private school principals adeptly navigate a challenging and dynamic educational landscape with strategic acumen. Three major themes — "maintain," "improve," and "implement" — were identified as pivotal in enhancing parents' inclination toward private schooling. These themes underscore the significance of upholding reputation, enhancing educational quality and facilities, and implementing innovative strategies to attract and retain students. The perspectives of these principals provide valuable insights into effective private school management, offering guidance for informed educational policy decisions. The study highlights that financial ability, as a component of control belief, strongly influences parents' intentions and behaviours. This suggests that the growth of private schools in urban areas may exacerbate social disparities and educational inequalities between affluent and underprivileged families. To tackle this issue, the Ministry of Education could contemplate incorporating the study's findings into the formulation of policies aimed at improving public schools. This might involve fostering collaborations through private-public partnerships and leveraging the entrepreneurial initiatives exhibited by strategic private school principals. In conclusion, the research yields comprehensive insights into private school strategic leadership and the role of private schools in Malaysia's education system. By comprehending the factors influencing parents' preferences and recognizing the impact of entrepreneurship in strategic leadership, policymakers can foster a more equitable, holistic, and sustainable educational ecosystem for all Malaysians.

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