Leadership competence of school heads and teachers’ readiness in adopting digital tools in teaching-learning

Abstract

This research assessed the digital leadership competence of school instructional leaders and teachers’ readiness to adopt digital tools in the select public schools on Jandayan Island, Getafe, Bohol, during School Year 2026–2027, as basis for a Digital Leadership and Pedagogical Readiness Enhancement Plan. It employed a quantitative descriptive-correlational research design involving three school leaders and fifty-seven teachers. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequencies, percentages, weighted means, standard deviations, rankings, and correlation analyses. Findings showed that school leaders demonstrated an outstanding level of digital leadership competence across visionary planning and digital transformation; digital communication and collaboration; instructional support for technology integration; professional development and capacity building; resource management and technology infrastructure support; and monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement of digital instruction. Teachers likewise exhibited outstanding readiness in their use of digital tools, pedagogical integration, attitudes and willingness toward digital instruction, and classroom management in technology-enhanced learning environments. A moderate positive and significant relationship was found between digital leadership competence and teachers’ readiness, with an r-value of 0.54 and a p-value of 0.021; thus, the null hypothesis was rejected. Major challenges included unstable internet connectivity, insufficient digital devices, limited training, inadequate digital learning resources, and a lack of technical support. The study concluded that stronger digital leadership was associated with greater teacher readiness. It recommended sustained coaching, mentoring, professional development, infrastructure improvement, technical assistance, resource sharing, and stakeholder partnerships. The enhancement plan was designed to strengthen leadership practices and support effective, equitable, and sustainable digital instruction.