The Influence of Instructional Leadership on Learning Organisation At High Performing Primary Schools in Malaysia

Transforming a school into a learning organization requires a significant cultural shift, change of mind-sets and a school-wide commitment to self-reflection and evaluation. The headmaster’s presence and drive in the school are urgently needed to bring the school to its intended purpose. Various styles of leadership will characterize the behaviour of a leader in performing their duties. It is essentially crucial for headmasters to increase competencies and skills in their practice of instructional leadership at the school. This study was conducted to identify the influence of instructional leadership on learning organization. It involved 286 teachers from 14 high-performing primary schools in the northern zone of Peninsular Malaysia. The modified Principal Instructional Management Rating Skills (PIMRS), and Middle School Teacher Survey (MSTS) were applied as research instruments. Data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) aided program AMOS 24. Findings indicated that instructional leadership was significantly related to learning organization. Results showed that loadings were significantly fit based on all index values tested with SEM and achieved the required level of the Goodness-of-Fit. Hence, findings could potentially benefit educational practitioners in planning, designing, implementing and evaluating future training such as professional development programs to sustain and enhance the leadership excellence of school leaders in Malaysia. Considerable time, efforts, and resources, however, will need to be allocated strategically, to turn any school into a successful and sustainable learning organization. What is important in bringing change and improvement is the collective agreement of the vision and objectives of the school. Keywords: High Performing School, Instructional Leadership, Learning Organisation,