Instructional Leadership Practices in International Schools in Malaysia: A Case Study

Abstract

The ever-growing popularity of international schools in Malaysia opens a new perspective in the study of instructional leadership in this academic system from the point of view of school leaders. Focusing on instructional leadership models by Hallinger & Murphy and Robinson, this case study has been conducted in three international schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as it aims to present existing instructional leadership practices and perspectives of school leaders in this setting. A qualitative interpretive approach was utilized by probing into the common practices of international school leaders in Malaysia. Using purposive and snowball sampling, six school leaders from three international schools from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia participated in this study through semi-structured interviews. The responses from the leaders were triangulated with observation field notes and document analysis. Coded and thematically analyzed using ATLAS.ti, the responses gathered from the interviews with the school leaders showed clear inclination of international school leadership towards instructional leadership especially when it comes to communicating goals, promoting a positive learning climate, and ensuring an orderly supportive environment. Aside from presenting the reality of school leadership in these international schools, this study seeks to share practices worth emulating and developing not only in academic institutions but also in other multicultural organizations.