THE MEDIATING EFFECTS OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF SCHOOL HEADS AND WORK ENGAGEMENT ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL SELF-ESTEEM AND TEACHER EFFICACY AMONG PUBLIC ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Universities preparing graduates for technology-enabled financial services need to understand how digital learning conditions relate to students’ career readiness. This study examines the associations of university-based Digital Financial Learning Ecosystem Quality with perceived FinTech Career Readiness among Vietnamese business students. Drawing on Social Cognitive Theory and Social Cognitive Career Theory, ecosystem quality is modelled as a reflective–formative higher-order construct comprising Digital Academic Support, the Digital Learning Environment, and Digital Teaching Innovation. Cross-sectional survey data from 341 students recruited through nonprobability convenience sampling via networks centred on northern Vietnam were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling and a disjoint two-stage procedure.All three ecosystem dimensions made significant formative contributions, with the digital learning environment showing the largest estimated weight. Higher ecosystem quality was positively associated with self-efficacy and learning motivation, and self-efficacy was positively associated with motivation. Motivation and career orientation were positively associated with perceived readiness, with motivation having the larger estimated direct coefficient. Career orientation showed no significant additional association with motivation after accounting for ecosystem quality and self-efficacy. Ecosystem quality was indirectly associated with readiness through motivation and through the sequential pathway involving self-efficacy and motivation. The model explained 41.5% of the variance in perceived readiness.The study contributes an integrated operationalisation of university-based digital financial learning quality and distinguishes learning-related associations from those of career orientation. The findings inform potential priorities for coordinating digital platforms, relevant financial content, academic support, practical learning, and competency-based career guidance. For universities and financial institutions, the study offers evidence to guide collaboration on graduate preparation and a foundation for evaluating how perceived readiness relates to demonstrated workplace competence.

This study aims to analyze the role of school principal leadership in shaping students’ character of discipline, responsibility, and independence at SMP Negeri 4 Pekanbaru. This research employed a qualitative phenomenological approach involving 16 participants consisting of one school principal, five teachers, and ten students, selected through purposive sampling based on their involvement and understanding of the research phenomenon. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation, and analyzed using data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that school principals play a crucial role in character formation through exemplary leadership, integration of character values into the school vision and mission, habituation programs, routine activities, supervision, and continuous evaluation. The strategies implemented include effective communication, motivation and appreciation, enforcement of school regulations accompanied by guidance, and collaboration with teachers, parents, and the community. Character development is supported by the principal’s commitment, involvement of school members, extracurricular activities, and family and community support. However, several challenges remain, including limited student awareness, insufficient parental supervision, peer influence, and uncontrolled use of technology and social media. This study highlights the importance of transformational and collaborative leadership in creating a school environment that supports sustainable student character development.

This study examined technological self-efficacy and classroom technology use among early childhood teachers at Cabangahan Elementary School, Siaton, Negros Oriental. Employing a quantitative descriptive-correlational design, the researchers collected self-reported data from five teachers using an expert-reviewed, Google Forms questionnaire. Descriptive frequencies, percentages, and five-point weighted means were used to characterize teachers’ profiles, basic technology skills, confidence in pedagogical integration, troubleshooting ability, frequency of technology use, diversity of digital tools, and perceived effects on children’s learning and engagement. The reported mean scores were 4.56 for basic technology skills, 4.56 for pedagogical integration, and 4.52 for technical troubleshooting, all interpreted as highly confident. Classroom technology use was rated 4.60 for frequency, 4.16 for diversity of tools, and 4.76 for perceived learning engagement. The study reported a very strong positive Pearson correlation between self-efficacy and classroom technology implementation (r = .94); no corresponding significance test was provided. Results suggest that the participating teachers perceived themselves as technologically capable and frequent users of digital resources, although the range of tools used was comparatively limited. The proposed action plan prioritizes device access, technical support, targeted professional learning, and classroom monitoring. Given the five-person, single-school sample and reliance on self-report, the findings should be interpreted as local descriptive evidence, not as proof of causal effects on children’s outcomes.

Madrasah leadership is increasingly expected to translate educational regulations and institutional visions into accountable practices that strengthen teaching, organizational culture, and Islamic character formation. This study is designed to examine how ethical, servant, spiritual, and authentic leadership are interpreted and enacted in educational policy at MTs Darussalam Lubuklinggau. A qualitative single-case study will be conducted. Purposively selected participants are expected to include the madrasah principal, vice-principals, teachers, educational staff, committee representatives, and selected students, subject to access and ethical approval. Data will be generated through in-depth interviews, non-participant observations, and analysis of institutional documents. The analysis will combine iterative data condensation, display, and conclusion verification with theory-informed and inductive thematic coding. Source and method triangulation, participant checking, and an audit trail will be used to strengthen trustworthiness. Since fieldwork has not yet been conducted, this manuscript does not report empirical findings. Its intended contribution is an analytical framework connecting four complementary leadership perspectives with the stages of madrasah policy formulation, communication, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

This study investigated the challenges facing head teachers in providing leadership support for the implementation of the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) in public primary schools in Muleba District, Tanzania. The study was guided by one specific objective: to identify the challenges faced by head teachers in providing leadership support for CBC implementation. Grounded in Hallinger and Murphy's (1985) Instructional Leadership Theory, the study adopted a pragmatic paradigm with a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. The target population comprised 2,166 individuals from 237 public primary schools. Data were collected using structured questionnaires from 112 respondents (100 classroom teachers and 12 heads of schools), semi-structured interviews with head teachers and one School Quality Assurance Officer, and document review. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics through SPSS Version 22, while qualitative data were analysed thematically following Braun and Clarke's (2006) framework. The findings revealed seven interconnected challenges: inadequate CBC training for head teachers themselves (84.8%), inadequate funding preventing leadership support (81.3%), heavy administrative workloads (76.8%), unclear government support (76.8%), financial constraints generally (67.9%), overcrowded classrooms (64.3%), and teacher resistance to CBC changes (52.7%). The study concluded that head teachers' effectiveness in leading CBC implementation is systematically undermined by systemic factors beyond their control. The study recommends mandatory CBC training for head teachers, reduction of administrative workloads, increased capitation grants with CBC-specific allocations, clear national implementation guidelines, and investment in school infrastructure.