Technical Brief #1: School Leadership

This technical brief explores how strengthening school leadership improves teaching, learning, and student wellbeing. It outlines VVOB’s evidence-based approach to introducing and embedding school leadership in education systems, focusing on building the capacity of professional development providers and institutionalising leadership training within ministries and universities.

Drawing on extensive experience from Rwanda, the brief demonstrates how effective school leadership can transform education systems. It details VVOB’s collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Rwanda Education Board, and the University of Rwanda – College of Education to develop a postgraduate diploma in Effective School Leadership, professional standards for school leaders, and professional learning communities (PLCs). Additional examples from Ecuador, Vietnam, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Suriname, and South Africa show how VVOB supports leadership for inclusion, gender equity, and improved learning outcomes across diverse education contexts.