HUBUNGAN KEPIMPINAN TRANSFORMASIONAL GURU BESAR DAN MOTIVASI GURU DI SEKOLAH KEBANGSAAN DI DAERAH SIBU SARAWAK

Abstract

Leadership is critical in shaping teacher motivation, which is essential to sustain school effectiveness and improve student outcomes. Transformational leadership has been recognized as a leadership approach that can significantly influence teachers’ professional commitment and motivation. However, findings from previous research on the correlation between leadership and motivation have been inconsistent. This study aims to examine the relationship between transformational leadership practices of head teachers and teacher motivation in national primary schools in the Sibu district of Sarawak. Specifically, it seeks to identify the level of transformational leadership demonstrated by head teachers, assess the level of teacher motivation and determine the correlation between the two variables. This descriptive quantitative study involved 250 teachers selected through simple random sampling. Data were obtained through the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) as well as the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS) and were analyzed using descriptive statistics alongside Pearson’s correlation. Results indicated that both transformational leadership (M = 4.15) and teacher motivation (M = 3.71) were high. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.486, p < 0.01) was identified between transformational leadership and teacher motivation, suggesting a moderately strong relationship. These findings endorse the initiative to adopt transformational leadership approaches in multicultural contexts. It reinforces the case for incorporating transformational leadership approaches in the Malaysian school leadership development initiatives.