Management Approach to Leadership and Teachers Commitment in Secondary Schools in Kupe-Muanenguba Division, South West Region of Cameroon

The effectiveness of an educational system heavily relies on teachers' commitment. In Cameroon, despite government efforts, concerns about teacher engagement persist. This study, based on Meyer and Allen’s Organisational Commitment Model, examined how leadership approaches influence teacher commitment in secondary schools in Kupe-Muanenguba Division. The research focused on democratic, transformational, and transactional leadership styles. Using a survey design with concurrent triangulation, data were collected from 248 teachers and 354 students across six government schools. Teachers completed the “Teacher Insights on Management Approach to Leadership Questionnaire” (TIMAL-Q), while students used the “Student Perception of Educator Commitment Questionnaire” (SPEC-Q). Semi-structured interviews with principals and vice principals supplemented the data. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency counts, proportions, and Pearson Correlation, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Findings revealed strong positive correlations between democratic (r=.980, p=.028) and transformational (r=.980, p=.028) leadership styles and teacher commitment, suggesting these approaches significantly enhance engagement. The transactional style also showed a positive correlation (r=.800, p=.014), though to a lesser extent. Qualitative data highlighted practices aligning with these leadership styles. The study underscores the importance of democratic and transformational leadership in fostering teacher commitment, especially in challenging environments. Recommendations include integrating these approaches to improve teacher engagement in quantitative and affective domains, leveraging transactional leadership for short-term goals, and providing targeted leadership training for school managers. This comprehensive strategy aims to boost teacher commitment and performance despite infrastructural constraints.