Transformational Leadership Theory and its Application to Educational Governance and Administration in the Philippines: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This review synthesizes studies from 2018 to 2024, evaluating Transformational Leadership Theory (TLT) application in Philippine educational governance. Analysis centers on idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration as drivers of teacher motivation, collaboration, and innovation. Findings from the Philippines reveal transformational leaders strengthen institutional governance and improve policy implementation by fostering participatory administration and professional growth. International research from 2020 to 2025 corroborates local results, showing that psychological empowerment, organizational climate, and distributed leadership mediate positive relationships between TLT behaviors and school effectiveness. Overall, the evidence affirms TLT’s validity in explaining how leadership practices address governance challenges and support reform. Integration of transformational leadership into development programs is recommended. Continued longitudinal and mixed-methods research will further clarify causal links and strengthen support for policy improvement.