Educational leadership is a multifaceted area of study. Unquestionably, leadership is the most deliberate field within the social sciences. Still, administrators have evaded the notions of leadership concept like a haunting tune. This study has focused particularly on the significance of varied leadership styles in teaching to sustain academic excellence at the secondary school level. The quantitative research method was used. Data was collected through the scale of diverse leadership styles (strategic, cultural, instructional leaderships and sustaining academic excellence) from 103 secondary schools in Punjab, Pakistan. The sample consisted of 540 teachers who were enacting as teachers presently. Based on research objectives and questions, two hypotheses were formed and tested using mean analysis to determine the average ranking of leadership styles. Pearson correlation to know the statistically significant relationship between each leadership styles, and overall scales with sustaining academic excellence. The results revealed that most teachers give preference strategic Leadership, then instructional leadership, and finally cultural leadership in their teaching to sustain academic excellence. Moreover, the findings also indicated that a statistically strong positive relationship among diverse leadership styles in teaching and sustaining academic excellence with the value (r = 0.752). Based on the findings, it has been concluded that when teachers increase their effort in the use of strategic, instructional, and cultural leadership styles, academic excellence may also sustain and improve.

Effective STEM education is closely linked to teacher professional development (TPD) quality. In response to the evolving demands of STEM education, the Chinese government has implemented numerous TPD programs across various cities and districts. This research systematically reviews 31 studies to identify the common objectives of STEM TPD projects, evaluate their impact on teachers’ competencies and instructional methods, and explore factors influencing project outcomes. The methodology involved extracting data and thematic analysis to provide qualitative insights into the effectiveness of TPD programs. The findings highlight a significant emphasis on interdisciplinary integration, innovative curriculum reform, and the development of technological proficiency among STEM teachers. Furthermore, the research identifies the need to extend training periods and provide targeted professional development to address specific regional challenges and the shortage of qualified STEM teachers. While there is a preference for interactive, in-person training sessions, a shift toward online modalities reflects changing professional development paradigms. Integrating STEM fields into educational settings fosters a more dynamic academic environment. However, the review also notes the predominance of interviews and surveys in data collection, underscoring the need for more diverse and robust empirical methodologies. Standardizing data collection and adopting comprehensive evaluation approaches are recommended to enhance the effectiveness of TPD programs. These insights provide a foundation for refining STEM TPD programs in China, calling for more empirical and holistic evaluations in future research.

The present study focused on three leadership, autocratic, democratic, and Laissez-faire, to sustain high school academic performance. To accomplish this, we used quantitative survey method and employed convenient sampling technique to collect data from 358 high school teachers/educators in various regions of Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. Data collection consisted of administering a survey questionnaire that used a five-point Likert Scale. The questionnaire included four variables: one dependent variable, sustained academic Performance, and three independent variables: Autocratic Leadership, Democratic Leadership, and Laissez-faire Leadership. Following data collection, Cronbach's alpha was used to assess the questionnaire's reliability, while the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was utilized to confirm the normality of the data. Formal statistical analysis included conducting a correlation study to ascertain the association between Autocratic Leadership, Democratic Leadership, and Laissez-faire Leadership with SAP and the impact of each independent variable on the dependent variable. CFA and SEM were conducted using Linear Structural Relations (LISREL) 8.80. These tests were used to identify relationships and differences among the study participants' opinions. The findings indicate that democratic leadership has a highly positive impact, and autocratic leadership has a moderate impact on sustaining academic performance. In contrast, the laissez-faire leadership style has the lowest impact on sustaining academic performance. Based on the study's findings, it is recommended that school teachers/educators should use a combination of democratic and authoritarian leadership styles in their classes to promote cooperation, student participation, ownership in the learning process and leading to their exceptional performance. Furthermore, the findings suggest that schools should actively promote teacher involvement in administrative tasks and decision-making. Ultimately, by integrating the advantages of both types, it is possible to cultivate a comprehensive educational experience that promotes scholarly achievement and equips students with the necessary skills to tackle future problems.

Reflective practice (RP) and reflective journal writing (RJW) are considered the most important ways to enhance students’ learning progress. During the pandemic, offline learning has replaced online learning to keep students safe and healthy. This research solely examined reflective practice during online learning, which is significant as online education is less effective and students carry the full study load. However, this study’s core purpose was to determine international graduate students’ perceptions regarding RP and RJW during online learning in the pandemic period. It also investigated whether student engagement in RP enhances their critical reflection and learning progress. The mixed-method (QUAN-QUAL) approach was utilized in this study. The sample consisted of 123 international graduate students who were enrolled in various disciplines and majors in China and at least attended two consecutive semesters (24 weeks) online. The survey questionnaire was based on 28 items to collect the quantitative data. The questionnaire was categorized into four variables: self-education, learning progress, critical reflection, and engagement. While semi-structured interviews were conducted with 5 participants for qualitative data collection, the quantitative results indicated that all of the statements received good ranks and could be used to study how reflective journals helped students improve their self-education, critical reflection, writing skills, learning progress, and engagement. In addition, the results revealed a statistically significant beneficial association between engagement, self-education, critical reflection, and learning progress. Qualitative findings corroborated the quantitative results that participation in RP and RJW boosted students’ critical thinking skills and facilitated their learning and development. Based on the results, this study concluded that RP or RJW enhance success ratios as well as critical reflection, which is effective not only in learning but also in professional and practical settings.

In Pakistani culture, family and husband are considered the strongest shelter of women. Divorce or Talaq is considered taboo; despite that, the divorce rate has risen in Pakistan for the last few years. The aim of the study was to determine the psychological and social factors and measure their impact on divorced and married women. The participants have taken from Punjab, Pakistan, and the sample consisted of 427 women. The quantitative survey method was used. The Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were constituted to determine the factors and then analyzed to measure their impact through further statistical methods. The findings concluded that psychological (depression, anxiety, stress) and social (family pressure, in-laws interference, financial issues) factors significantly negatively impact on divorced and married women.

Globally, as we progress toward a more sustainable future, the sustainable development goals (SDGs) must be incorporated into various sectors, including education. This article explores the significant impact of inventive leadership styles on SDGs in education at the secondary school level in Pakistan. Based on this study, four hypotheses were developed using leadership variables such as empowerment of leadership, inspiring learners, resilient visions, and lead transformation. A quantitative survey method was utilized in this study. The researchers selected convenient sampling to collect data from 288 teachers, including heads of schools and administrators from 89 institutions. The data collection process included using a survey questionnaire to collect data on leadership styles and their relationship regarding SDGs within the field of education. In order to analyze the given data, two software programs were used, namely SPSS and Smart PLS 4.0. Several statistical methods were used to examine the collected data, such as confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), which were implemented to confirm the measurement model. Additionally, path analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between independent and dependent variables. The findings revealed that overall leadership styles have a great positive impact on SDGs in education. Based on results, it has been found that it would be beneficial if leaders/teachers enhance their struggle using inventive leadership styles for achieving SDGs, fostering transformative education, and ensuring that learners and societies benefit from a more equitable and resilient future. Additionally, the need for more resources, resistance to change, and a need for leaders’/teachers’ professional development have been identified as potential obstacles. To overcome these challenges, a collaborative approach among stakeholders, policy support, and innovative practices are recommended.