AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Abstract

This paper looks at the focus of leadership practices of National Islamic Secondary School principals in Malaysia. It introduces the concept of Rabbani leadership that places great importance to shared responsibilities and accountability and practices driven by internal drives aligned to concerns for godly/divine righteousness (ketuhanan), human development (keinsanan), and professional development. Leadership focus refers to dominance of practices exhibiting the specific concerns, be it developing the spiritual self, the human self or the professional self. The results show that the general focus of the principal leadership practices were all three aspects of moral judgement, that is concern for divine rightousness, human development, and professional development or developing the professional self.