Influence of School Principals’ Ethical Leadership on Teachers’ Organizational Commitment

Mitiku Kajisho Banata; Ashebir Bezabih Estifanos; Abraham Tulu Mekonnen

doi:10.30828/real.1617328

Influence of School Principals’ Ethical Leadership on Teachers’ Organizational Commitment

Abstract

Although school ethical leadership plays a crucial role in individual and organizational behaviors, the impact of school principals’ ethical leadership on teachers’ organizational commitment has not received as much research attention. The main purpose of this study was to examine the influence of school principals’ ethical leadership on teachers’ organizational commitment in government secondary schools in Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia. To achieve this purpose, a correlational study design was employed. A multi-stage sampling technique was utilized to draw representative samples from the target population. Through this process, one zone and one City Administration were chosen. Subsequently, six secondary schools and 259 teachers were selected as the study sample. Data were collected using a questionnaire, and the validity and reliability of the instruments were thoroughly checked. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied for data analysis. The study result showed a positive, strong, and significant relationship between school principals' ethical leadership and teachers' organizational commitment. The study further revealed that ethical leadership dimensions were positively and significantly related to teachers’ organizational commitment. Moreover, all dimensions of ethical leadership, except for the behavioral ethical leadership dimension, had a positive, statistically significant, and moderate effect on teachers' organizational commitment. The study implies that school principals should actively exhibit and reinforce ethical behaviors in their activities, as an empirically supported factor in enhancing teachers' organizational commitment. Education offices should also establish ethical guidelines and capacity-building initiatives to ensure that all school leaders consistently demonstrate ethical leadership.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research received no external funding.

Ethical Statement

Institutional Review Board Statement: The Research Ethics Review Committee of the College of Education, Hawassa University approved the study on 12/05/2023 (Ref. No COE-RERC – 11/23).

Thanks

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the study participants.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Leadership in Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mitiku Kajisho Banata ^*
Ethiopia

Ashebir Bezabih Estifanos
0000-0002-1226-6258
Ethiopia

Abraham Tulu Mekonnen
0000-0003-3607-8961
Ethiopia

Publication Date

March 30, 2026

Submission Date

July 11, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 8, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1617328

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA98CG92TX

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Banata, M. K., Estifanos, A. B., & Mekonnen, A. T. (2026). Influence of School Principals’ Ethical Leadership on Teachers’ Organizational Commitment. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, 11(1), 237-288. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1617328

AMA

1.Banata MK, Estifanos AB, Mekonnen AT. Influence of School Principals’ Ethical Leadership on Teachers’ Organizational Commitment. REAL. 2026;11(1):237-288. doi:10.30828/real.1617328

Chicago

Banata, Mitiku Kajisho, Ashebir Bezabih Estifanos, and Abraham Tulu Mekonnen. 2026. “Influence of School Principals’ Ethical Leadership on Teachers’ Organizational Commitment”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11 (1): 237-88. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1617328.

EndNote

Banata MK, Estifanos AB, Mekonnen AT (March 1, 2026) Influence of School Principals’ Ethical Leadership on Teachers’ Organizational Commitment. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11 1 237–288.

IEEE

[1]M. K. Banata, A. B. Estifanos, and A. T. Mekonnen, “Influence of School Principals’ Ethical Leadership on Teachers’ Organizational Commitment”, REAL, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 237–288, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.30828/real.1617328.

ISNAD

Banata, Mitiku Kajisho - Estifanos, Ashebir Bezabih - Mekonnen, Abraham Tulu. “Influence of School Principals’ Ethical Leadership on Teachers’ Organizational Commitment”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11/1 (March 1, 2026): 237-288. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1617328.

JAMA

1.Banata MK, Estifanos AB, Mekonnen AT. Influence of School Principals’ Ethical Leadership on Teachers’ Organizational Commitment. REAL. 2026;11:237–288.

MLA

Banata, Mitiku Kajisho, et al. “Influence of School Principals’ Ethical Leadership on Teachers’ Organizational Commitment”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, vol. 11, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 237-88, doi:10.30828/real.1617328.

Vancouver

1.Mitiku Kajisho Banata, Ashebir Bezabih Estifanos, Abraham Tulu Mekonnen. Influence of School Principals’ Ethical Leadership on Teachers’ Organizational Commitment. REAL. 2026 Mar. 1;11(1):237-88. doi:10.30828/real.1617328