Title: Towards effective implementation of educational reforms: the relationship between principal change leadership competency and teacher agency

Authors: Reyett Paunan; Mei Kin Tai; Jasmine Jain

Addresses: School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia; Far Eastern University, Manila, Philippines ' Education for All, Impact Lab, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia ' Education for All, Impact Lab, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between Principal Change Leadership Competency (PCLC) and Teacher Agency (TA) among private secondary schools in CALABARZON Region in the Philippines. Using stratified random sampling, 938 private secondary school teachers from 5 provinces in the region completed the survey. The data was analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. The findings revealed a significant relationship between PCLC and TA (β = 0.411, p < 0.05), with a medium effect size (f² = 0.203) explaining 16.9% of the variance in TA (R² = 0.169). These results underscore the critical role of PCLC in fostering TA by promoting autonomy, adaptability and professional ownership. The study provides valuable insights for school administrators and policymakers in designing relevant leadership training programs to enhance PCLC as the successful implementation of educational reforms relies on school principals' competencies in driving change by enhancing TA.

Keywords: principal change leadership competency; teacher agency; educational reforms; MATATAG curriculum; PLS-SEM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2026.154570

International Journal of Management in Education, 2026 Vol.20 No.4, pp.366 - 390

Received: 15 Feb 2025
Accepted: 05 Jul 2025
Published online: 06 Jul 2026 *

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