Gaga

ACTION RESEARCH: AN INVESTIGATION OF PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADMASTERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT PROJECTS AS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

By

Hamzah Md.Omar

Universiti Malaysia Sabah,
Sabah, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Accountability in education is perhaps the most significant issue faced by primary school headmasters today. With the education reformation of the Elementary and Secondary
Education in term of delivery system, Universiti Malaysia Sabah has been concentrating efforts on meaningful headmasters’ development to improve school management.
The adoption of the Special Professional Education Program for Headmasters (SPEPH) has enabled the UMS to provide these primary headmasters with staff development opportunities during the school day to closely examine instructional practices. School of Education and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Sabah has expanded this to include a specific headmasters initiated, action research initiative. The headmasters identify areas of inquiry upon which to gather data and make adjustments in administration to improve school administration.   This study was designed to be a participatory action research based on headmasters’ actions. Utilizing survey instruments and questionnaires, headmasters provided initial feedback to evaluate the effectiveness of the school management in the areas of school organization, curriculum, co-curriculum, finance, student affairs, etc. Data was gathered through both qualitative and quantitative means to establish support for the cultural impact of action research on the professional staff.   Data were analyzed comparing nine distinct areas of school management concerns of school heads that completed the action research phase. The data were used to determine if the project had a positive impact on instructional practice and to what degree action research is sustained in the daily lives of the professional educators.
Results of the study suggested that a positive impact occurred...