Understanding the Lack of Knowledge and Awareness of the Models of Educational Leadership Among Kindergarten Leaders and Ways to Increase Their Knowledge and Awareness from the Perspective of Education Supervisors in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to understand the extent of knowledge and awareness of models of educational leadership among kindergarten leaders, and to identify the reasons for a lack of knowledge. The aim, moreover, was to explore methods for increasing knowledge and awareness of the models of educational leadership among kindergarten leaders in Saudi Arabia from the perspective of kindergarten supervisors. This study adopted a qualitative approach by conducting interviews with six female kindergarten supervisors. There was consensus among the participants that knowledge of leadership models is lacking among kindergarten leaders, and four main themes emerge: (1) lack of training, (2) lack of experience, (3) the absence of self-development, and (4) lack of time. Also, four main themes emerge as methods to increase the knowledge among leaders: (1) training, (2) incentives and encouragement, (3) specialisation in educational leadership, and (4) benefiting from the experiences of others. The study seeks to make a meaningful contribution to understanding the reasons for lack of knowledge and awareness of leadership models, and methods of increasing knowledge among kindergarten leaders in Saudi Arabia.