Abstract:

Conceptualised within the theoretical framework of ethical development, this research aimed to elicit the perceptions and experiences of senior management team members and teachers about ethical leadership in education and its implications for effective school leadership. Several studies and media reports have brought to the fore a surge of unscrupulous conduct among several school leaders which imposes on positive cultures of schools. Using qualitative research within an interpretivist design, data was collected through interviews with teachers and school management teams (including principals). Using Tesch’s method of coding, the data was analysed according to themes. Three major themes emerged from the findings: The participants’ conceptualisation of ethical leadership; characteristics or attributes of ethical leadership; and transparency as a component of ethical leadership. A trusting relationship among team members is considered the foundation for effective and successful schools. To change a culture of a school, respect for leadership is central. However, leaders respect for their staff and the profession is much more important than respect for leadership. It was established that transparency is a prerequisite for leaders to lead and manage their schools effectively.

Keywords:

Ethical leadership, trust, respect, school culture, transparency.