Huan, Lim Wei
Unknown Affiliation

Published : 1 Documents Claim Missing Document
Claim Missing Document
Check
Articles

Found 1 Documents
Search

Leadership and management in early childhood: navigating contradictions and pedagogical practices to foster inclusivity Nalliah, Manoharan; Aboudahr, Shorouk; Huan, Lim Wei; Taddese, Esayas Teshome
International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE) Vol 14, No 5: October 2025
Publisher : Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.11591/ijere.v14i5.33061

Abstract

Early years’ education is an important foundation for a child’s life-long learning, and leaders and managers in early childhood work settings have an important role in creating a nurturing environment that supports and enables children to learn regardless of their needs. This study investigates the challenges and contradictions leaders and managers face in early childhood education (ECE) settings. It examines how pedagogical praxis can be leveraged to foster inclusivity focusing on the tension between the intrinsic value of play and the pressure of child performativity meeting performance benchmarks. This qualitative study offers a constructive discussion on leadership practices in ECE and inclusion in Malaysia. The thematic analysis of nine interviews analyzed by N-VIVO software and showed the important considerations for enhancing leadership and management approaches, creating more inclusive spaces, and supporting the holistic development of early childhood curricula. The result offers a rich description of how leading practices are increasingly influenced by dominant trends in educational policies and society, including neoliberal agendas and narrowly conceived accountability systems that focus on measurable outcomes. It underlines the centrality of supporting the ongoing professional development of educators.