Pule ako

Pule Ako: Educational Leadership in Tonga is a qualitative study of 15 school principals and their leadership practices. The intention of my study is primarily to understand how Tongan principals make sense of educational leadership within Tongan society. Cross-cultural perspectives and socialisation processes were used as theoretical frameworks in examining participants' perspectives on educational leadership. By way of using a socialisation process, a better understanding of principals' training, values and beliefs, experiences, theories about leadership, organisation and change was achieved. Furthermore, in using a cross-cultural lens, contradictions and tensions in the leadership practices of principals and their relationship with educational organisations and various stakeholders were also brought to light. Results of this study show that principals are informally trained by way of modelling their mentors. Participants' professional values reflect Christian principles, Tongan core values and their effort to accommodate stakeholders' expectations. Participants are aware of the social and economic changes that are occurring in contemporary Tongan society, and the subsequent effects on stakeholders and themselves. Incumbent principals are changing traditional approaches to educational leadership: decision-making processes are becoming consultative, principals are making efforts to define their professional values, professional relationships are being developed, relationships with students are more caring, individual and understanding, and principals are recognising the potential support provided by other stakeholders. Incumbent principals are making changes in their approaches to educational leadership in order to better understand the challenges of a changing society and to better serve their students.