African Sociology of Education | 25 August 2002

School Leadership and School Improvement in Malawi: An Action Research Study

S, i, m, u, l, i, r, a, M, a, g, a, n, d, a, ,, M, p, u, n, d, u, K, a, l, i, l, a, ,, K, a, m, w, a, t, i, N, k, h, a, t, a, ,, C, h, i, t, u, w, o, C, h, i, k, a, m, a, l, u

Abstract

This study examines how school leadership influences educational improvement in Malawi's schools. School leaders were interviewed, and observations were conducted to gather qualitative data on leadership styles, management strategies, and their impact on educational improvement. Leaders who implemented a more collaborative approach with teachers saw an increase of 20% in student achievement scores compared to those using traditional autocratic methods. This study highlights the importance of fostering positive relationships between leaders and educators for improving school performance. School management teams should prioritise developing leadership skills, particularly in collaborative practices, to better support educational improvement initiatives.