ETHICS OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

This article aimed to present the concept of effective leadership grounded in ethical principles. Leadership was deeply rooted in individuality and often regarded as a position of primary importance and authority. An educational leader guided a school or educational institution toward excellence with efficiency and effectiveness. The role of educational leaders was crucial in administrative management; therefore, they had to carry abilities, potential, competencies, and attributes conducive to achieving educational goals-especially ethics. In today’s fast-changing, multicultural society, and in the digital era or the 21^st century, there was a growing emphasis on individual needs, influenced by capitalism, materialism, and various forms of social ideologies. These dynamics compelled leaders to reflect on ethical considerations. When ethical lapses occurred, they might lead to negative perceptions among followers, resulting in diminished trust in leadership. Such attitudes could subsequently affect the performance of duties and may damage the reputation of the organization or the educational system. Ultimately, learners could be directly or indirectly impacted by a leader’s lack of ethics. Therefore, this article presented the ethical foundations of educational leadership in the 21^st century, including the definitions of ethics, leadership, and education. It also discussed theoretical perspectives to enhance understanding of ethical educational leadership and highlights religious viewpoints, asserting that ethics fundamentally stem from religious doctrines and teachings.