An Examination of Lecturers’ Perceptions of Instructional Leadership and Teacher Efficacy in Jamaican Community Colleges

It is not known if Jamaican community college leaders understand the extent of instructional leadership and its influences on teachers’ efficacy. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive correlation study is to examine lecturers’ perceptions of instructional leadership and teachers’ efficacy in Jamaican Community Colleges. 70 teachers from nine community colleges participated, responding to the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) and the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) via online questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential analysis was used to examine lecturers’ perceptions of instructional leadership and teachers’ efficacy, the differences among instructional leadership and teachers’ efficacy based on demographic characteristics, the relationship which existed between instructional leadership and teachers’ efficacy, and the predictive relationship which may exist between instructional leadership and teachers’ efficacy. Results suggested that respondents perceived that their principals sometimes exhibit instructional leadership behaviors and that they can deal with the issues that cause difficulties in their school. Demographic analysis suggests no significant differences in perceptions based on gender, age, or qualification, but significant differences exist regarding teaching experience and position. Similarly, demographic variables like gender, age, and teaching position revealed no significant differences in teachers’ efficacy perceptions, while teaching experience and qualifications exhibited significant differences. A low positive and not statistically significant relationship existed between instructional leadership and teachers’ efficacy, and developing a positive school learning climate was the strongest predictor of teachers’ efficacy. The study contributes to the body of research on instructional leadership and teachers’ efficacy in Higher education from the Jamaican context.