Exploring the importance of ethical leadership from two Swaziland schools.

Abstract

Master of Education in Educational Leadership, Management and Policy. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood 2015.

This study sought to explore the importance that principals from two Swaziland schools
 attach to ethical leadership in the schools. To reach the purpose for this study, critical
 questions were asked; what importance do school principals from two Swaziland schools
 attach to ethical leadership in their schools. The study further investigated the factors that
 promote and hinder ethical leadership in the schools. Furthermore, the study identified the
 factors the two school leadership employed to promote ethical leadership. The theoretical
 framework used in the study is the Social Learning Theory. The study was located in the
 Interpretivist paradigm which used a qualitative approach. A case study methodology was
 employed where semi-structured interviews were adopted as a data generation technique.
 Through random sampling technique ten participants were selected; two principals, one
 deputy principal, two heads of department and five teachers from two high schools were
 selected.
 The data generated was thematically analysed which identified codes, categories and themes.
 The study argues that ethical leadership is important in the running of the school. The
 leadership of the school should be exemplary in displaying ethical values to the school. It
 further argues that a role model in the leadership of the school influences the subordinates to
 emulate his/her conduct. When the ethics are passed to the teachers, teachers become
 exemplary to the students who are influenced to be morally upright. The findings of the study
 also concluded that ethical leadership is essential in the running of the school and that it
 should start from the head of the institution, then flow to the teachers and then melt to the
 pupils. Findings also indicated that the principals from these two schools do promote ethical
 leadership, through factors they engage to promote ethical leadership. The findings also
 clarified that there are factors that hinder ethical leadership in the running of the school.
 The study was conducted at a small scale, therefore I recommend for a broader research to be
 conducted, ensuring that confirmability, transferability and the credibility of the findings of
 this study. I also recommend that ethical leadership should be part of the teacher training
 curriculum. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education and Training should train teachers on
 ethics.