Leadership styles in Government High schools: Evidence from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – KP

Leadership is considered the prime source for development of a learning organization. School leadership is a critical issue for developing schools as learning organizations which in turn produce well-equipped human resources for the development of the knowledge economy. This study was carried out in the seven districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – KP- Government owned High Schools to investigate the leadership styles of school leaders and demographic impact on these styles. It was found that although school leaders are more transformational than transactional but not up to the desired level. Higher scores were reported for Idealized Influence, Inspirational motivation, and Contingent reward respectively. Laissez-faire leadership style is the least exercised style. Overall, male was found more transformational than female, but on individual (dimensions) styles they differed. The result showed an interesting relationship of age with styles that in early and late ages, school leaders preferred to exercise charismatic (idealized influence) but in the mid ages, they were inclined to use contingent reward. It is suggested that for the school leader’s degree or a diploma in Education Planning and Management (EPM) shall be included in their eligibility criteria, their department shall have successive planning, their appraisal shall take in to consideration their leadership behaviors, they shall be involved in incentivized research activities, and shall be given autonomy in school management.  At the end limitations and future directions are also discussed.