Transformational Leadership in Enhancing Teacher Motivation and Skills in Border Areas within the Digital Era
Keywords:
transformational leadership, teacher motivation, teacher skill, digital era, training programs
Abstract
Transformational leadership is an important factor in facing educational challenges in the digital age, which demands innovation, collaboration, and improved teacher competence. This study aims to analyze the role of transformational leadership in improving teacher motivation and skills in Border Areas in the digital era. The research subjects include teachers and principals of senior high schools in the Indonesia-Malaysia border region. The approach used is a mixed method, which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were collected through questionnaires to obtain a quantitative picture of teachers' perceptions of principal leadership, and interviews to explore a more comprehensive understanding of transformational leadership practices in schools. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistical techniques and thematic analysis. The results of the study show that transformational leadership plays a significant role in increasing teacher work motivation, strengthening professional commitment, and encouraging the development of digital skills relevant to the demands of 21st-century learning. Principals who apply a transformational leadership style are able to create a work environment that is inspiring and adaptive to technological changes. This study recommends the need for digital leadership training programs for principals to strengthen their ability to motivate and empower teachers in the era of educational transformation
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Zhao, J., Zhou, H., & Yin, J. (2020). A Review of Teacher Transformational Leadership in Higher Education: The Fourth Wave of Teacher Leadership ZHAO. Higher Education of Social Science, 19(1), 54–62. https://doi.org/10.3968/11834
Azevedo, A., & Azevedo, P. (2020). Digital Transformation of Educational Institutions: Challenges, Opportunities and Needs Caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic. EDEN Conference Proceedings, 1(1), 275–286. https://doi.org/10.38069/edenconf-2020-rw-0030
Benton, R. (2017). The Leadership Practices of Elementary Principals in Urban Innercity Schools of South Los Angeles That Impact the Successful Implementation of School Reform. Concordia University Irvine.
Charania, A., Paltiwale, S., Sen, S., Sarkar, D., & Bakshani, U. (2023). Leading Edge Use of Technology for Teacher Professional Development in Indian Schools. Education Sciences, 13(4), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13040386
Chebon, S. K., Aruasa, Dr. W. K., & Chirchir, L. K. (2019). Effect of Inspirational Motivation and Idealized Influence on Employee Performance At Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 10(7), 131–140. https://doi.org/10.30845/ijbss.v10n7p14
Chiș-Manolache, D. (2022). the Importance of Transformational Leadership in Organisations. Scientific Research And Education In The Air Force – AFASES 2022, 1(1), 127–131. https://doi.org/10.19062/2247-3173.2022.23.19
Fauziyah, H. (2022). Manajemen Kepemimpinan Transformasional Di Bidang Pendidikan Terhadap Kedisiplinan Mutu Pendidikan. Realita : Jurnal Penelitian Dan Kebudayaan Islam, 15(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.30762/realita.v15i1.465
Fulgence, K. (2020). Developing Digital Fluency Among Teacher Educators: Evidence from Tanzanian Schools of Education. International Journal of Education and Development Using Information and Communication Technology (IJEDICT), 16(2), 158–175.
Gonfa, B. D. (2019). Review on Components of Transformational Leadership. Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 9(3), 1–5.
Harb, B., & Sidani, D. (2019). Transformational leadership for organizational change in the Lebanese public sector. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 17(2), 205–216. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.17(2).2019.15
Harsono, Chirmala, W. P. A., Sabriza, Y., & Narimo, S. (2023). Innovative Leadership to Build School Academic Culture during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Journal of Hunan University Natural Sciences, 50(4). https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.50.4.7
Karaferye, F. (2022). Digital Teaching and Learning: Exploring Primary School Teachers’ Approaches, Sources of Concern & Expectations. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, 5(4), 808–824. https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.1156717
Kareem, J., Patrick, H. A., Prabakaran, N., Valarmathi, B., Tantia, V., Pramod Kumar, M. P. M., & Mukherjee, U. (2023). Transformational Educational Leaders Inspire School Educators’ Commitment. Frontiers in Education, 8(May), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1171513
López Belmonte, J., Pozo Sánchez, S., Fuentes Cabrera, A., & Romero Rodríguez, J. M. (2019). Análisis del Liderazgo Electrónico y la Competencia Digital del Profesorado de Cooperativas Educativas de Andalucía (España). Multidisciplinary Journal of Educational Research, 9(2), 194. https://doi.org/10.17583/remie.2019.4149
Mendis, P. (2001). Teaching in the Information Age: Leadership Aspects of Integrated Learning with Technology in Democratic Environments. Academic Leadership, 1(2), 1–10.
Morales, J. C. (2022). Transformational Leadership and Teacher Work Motivation in Private Educational Institutions. International Journal of Research Publications, 105(1), 578–614.
Naz, F., & Rashid, S. (2021). Effective Instructional Leadership can Enhance Teachers’ Motivation and Improve Students’ Learning Outcomes. Sir Syed Journal of Education & Social Research, 4(1), 477–485. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36902/sjesr-vol4-iss1-2021(477-485)
Novitasari, D., & Asbari, M. (2020). Pengaruh Kepemimpinan Transformasional terhadap Kinerja Karyawan: Peran Kesiapan untuk Berubah Sebagai Mediator. Jurnal Manajemen, 10(2), 84–99. https://doi.org/10.30656/jm.v10i2.2371
Pakalniņa, R., Ročāne, M., & Jurs, P. (2023). The Relevance of Transformational Leadership in the Context of the Competence Approach in Pre-School. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference, 89–99. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.17770/sie2023vol2.7140
Sardon Ari, D. L. (2017). Transformational Leadership and School Management in Educational Institutions. Revista de Investigaciones Altoandinas - Journal of High Andean Research, 19(3), 295–304. https://doi.org/10.18271/ria.2017.294
Shen, Q. (2022). Developing Teacher Leadership in Educational Technology: A Systematic Literature Review. BCP Social Sciences & Humanities, 19(1), 717–723. https://doi.org/10.54691/bcpssh.v19i.1872
Taimur, S., Sattar, H., & Dowd, E. (2021). Exploring Teachers’ Perception on Successes and Challenges Associated with Digital Teaching Practice During COVID-19 Pandemic School Closures. Pedagogical Research, 6(4), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.29333/pr/11253
Tejada Fernández, J., & Pozos Pérez, K. V. (2018). New Scenarios and Trainers’ Digital Competencies: Towards the Professionalization of Teaching with ICT. Profesorado, Revista de Currículum y Formación Del Profesorado, 22(1), 25–51. https://doi.org/10.30827/profesorado.v22i1.9917
Wulandari, D., Noviani, P., Hardhienata, S., & Setyaningsih, S. (2023). Professional Commitment: Transformational Leadership, Perceived Organizational Support, and Achievement Motivation as the Mediator. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 15(2), 2166–2172. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v15i2.3239
Yani, N. A., Kristiawan, M., & Martha, A. (2021). Leadership of the Principal in Improving the Professional Competence of Teachers in the Digital Age. JPGI (Jurnal Penelitian Guru Indonesia), 6(1), 268. https://doi.org/10.29210/021040jpgi0005
Zhao, J., Zhou, H., & Yin, J. (2020). A Review of Teacher Transformational Leadership in Higher Education: The Fourth Wave of Teacher Leadership ZHAO. Higher Education of Social Science, 19(1), 54–62. https://doi.org/10.3968/11834
Published
2026-04-30
How to Cite
Waruwu, M., Putra Sartika, R., Fatmawati, F., & Eviana, E. (2026). Transformational Leadership in Enhancing Teacher Motivation and Skills in Border Areas within the Digital Era. Pedagogi: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 26(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24036/pedagogi.v26i1.2944
Section
Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
