The Relationship Between Ethical Leadership and Teacher Motivation: A Study at Secondary Schools in Sarawak

Mackencidy Bujang, Bity Salwana Alias, Azlin Norhaini Mansor

Abstract


Ethical leadership plays a crucial role in fostering teacher motivation and enhancing overall school effectiveness. However, limited research has explored this relationship within the context of secondary schools in Sarawak. This study aims to identify the level of ethical leadership among secondary school principals, assess the level of motivation among teachers, and examine the correlation between ethical leadership and teacher motivation. A pilot study was conducted with 100 secondary school teachers using a quantitative survey approach. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using correlation and regression techniques. The findings indicate that both ethical leadership and teacher motivation levels were high. Moreover, the results reveal a strongly significant positive correlation between ethical leadership and teacher motivation. This suggests that teachers who perceive their leaders as ethical report higher levels of satisfaction, commitment, and enthusiasm in their roles. These findings underscore the importance of ethical leadership in creating a supportive and motivational workplace culture. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and school administrators in formulating leadership strategies to enhance teacher motivation and retention. Future research should expand the sample size and incorporate qualitative approaches to gain deeper insights into the mechanisms underlying this relationship.

 

 


Keywords


Principal, Ethical leadership, Teacher Motivation, School Effectiveness, Sarawak

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/ebangi.2026.2301.02

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