Principals’ Leadership Management in Primary School Education Based on a Literature Review

Abstract

Principals’ leadership management plays a crucial role in shaping the quality of primary school education. Principals are expected not only to manage school administration but also to act as instructional leaders and agents of change who influence teaching and learning processes. This study aims to examine the implementation of principals’ leadership management in planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs, the role of principals as instructional leaders in building school culture and enhancing teacher professionalism, and the challenges faced by principals and their impact on instructional quality in primary schools. This study employed a literature review method by analyzing relevant national and international journal articles and academic sources. Data were analyzed thematically to identify key concepts and research patterns. The findings indicate that leadership management functions have been implemented, although they remain largely administrative. Principals contribute to instructional improvement and teacher development; however, their practices are not consistently applied. Challenges such as limited managerial competence, heavy administrative workloads, and resource constraints hinder effective instructional leadership and equitable improvement in instructional quality. In conclusion, educational leadership research remains dominated by a small number of countries, underscoring the need for greater international representation to enhance its global relevance.