Enhancing English Proficiency in Education Through the Role of Digital Transformation Leadership
Meningkatkan Kecekapan Bahasa Inggeris dalam Pendidikan melalui Peranan Kepimpinan Transformasi Digital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37134/mrj.vol14.2.9.2025Keywords:
Digital Leadership, Educational Reform, MBMMBI, Bilingual Education, English ProficiencyAbstract
The changing technology and globalisation have rapidly brought global changes to the way education is delivered. Therefore, digital transformation models need to be integrated into leaders’ thought processes and programs to support national language policies. In Malaysia, the “Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening the English Language” (MBMMBI) policy seeks to protect the status and reputation of the Malay Language while promoting English as a competitive language. This qualitative study examines the engagement of digital transformation leadership in implementing an educational reform agenda that aligns with MBMMBI objectives to promote the use of technology in English language learning. Leaders of digital transformation are strategic, visionary leaders who drive educational and technological change by advancing pedagogical innovation towards more effective, bilingual, and equitable high-quality education. Utilising digital media, online resources, and evidence-based language assessment solutions, these leaders can lead the way to an enriched, interactive learning environment that enhances student engagement and English language learning without sacrificing national linguistic identity. The paper further develops how digital leadership can address teacher readiness, equitable access, and content and curriculum fit, thereby securing the survival of the Malay language and English in the national learning system. The study concludes by emphasising the critical role that visionary, technology-led leadership plays in achieving the ambitions of MBMMBI and in increasing Malaysia’s global education role.
Downloads
References
Adnan, E. F., & Mohamad, M. (2024). The impacts and challenges of implementation of Highly Immersive Programme (HIP) towards English learning in Malaysian primary schools: A literature review. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 13(3), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v13-i3/22889
Dunwoodie, K., Macaulay, L., & Newman, A. (2022). Qualitative interviewing in the field of work and organisational psychology: Benefits, challenges and guidelines for researchers and reviewers. Applied Psychology, 72(3), 863–889. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12414
Day, C., Harris, A., & Hadfield, M. (2001). Challenging the orthodoxy of effective school leadership. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 4(1), 39–56. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603120117505
Fadhlurrahman, W., Rasidi, W., Mydin, A.-A., & Rasidi, W. F. (2020). Peranan pemimpin pertengahan sekolah dalam menerajui dasar pendidikan: Suatu sorotan literatur sistematik terhadap pelaksanaan dasar MBMMBI [The role of schools’ middle leaders in leading education policy: A systematic literature review on the implementation of MBMMBI policy]. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2(2), 231–239.
Fazal Mohamed Mohamed Sultan, F. M. M., Karuppannan, G., & Rumpod, J. (2022). Instructional leadership practices among headmasters and the correlation with primary schools’ achievement in Sabah, Malaysia. English Language Teaching, 15(2), 50–60. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v15n2p50
Ghavifekr, S., & Yue, W. S. (2022). Technology leadership in Malaysian schools: The way forward to Education 4.0—ICT utilization and digital transformation. International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management, 13(3), 1–18.
https://doi.org/10.4018/ijabim.20220701.oa3
Hallinger, P. (2001). Leading educational change in East Asian schools. International Studies in Educational Administration, 29(2), 61–72.
Hallinger, P. (2005). Instructional leadership and the school principal: A passing fancy that refuses to fade away. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 4(3), 1–20.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15700760500244793
Ibrahim, A., Jusoh, M. J., Tahir, N., Hamzah, S. S. B., & Tasilkhan, M. (2024). Digital transformation and innovation for enhancing the performance of primary schools in Malaysia. Masyarakat, Kebudayaan dan Politik, 37(4), 446–458. https://doi.org/10.20473/mkp.V37I42024.446-458
Jaafar, M., Asimiran, S., Abdullah, A., & Alias, S. N. (2022). Systematic literature review: Strategic leadership practices among school leaders in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(3), 128–138. https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/45161/1/45161.pdf
Julius, A., Kamugisha, N., & Kobusingye, P. (2024). Integration of qualitative data analysis techniques into academic research papers. Journal of Research Methodology, 10, 161–170.
Kamsin, S. R., & Mohamad, M. (2020). The implementation of Highly Immersive Programme (HIP) speaking activities in Malaysian schools: A literature review. Creative Education, 11(9), 1783–1794. https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2020.119130
Karaköse, T., & Tulubas, T. (2023). Digital leadership and sustainable school improvement: A conceptual analysis and implications for future research. Educational Process: International Journal, 12(1), 7–18. https://doi.org/10.22521/edupij.2023.121.1
Korejan, M., & Shahbazi, H. (2016). An analysis of the transformational leadership theory. Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, 8(3S), 452–461. https://doi.org/10.4314/jfas.v8i3s.192
Lee, L. T. (2025, February 13). Strengthening English proficiency crucial for Malaysia's future. New Straits Times.
Mat Rahimi, Y., Mohd Yusri, I., & Zahari, A. (2016). Kepimpinan digital pemimpin sekolah. Seminar Nasional Pengurusan dan Kepimpinan Pendidikan ke-23, 1–8.
McCarthy, A. M., Maor, D., McConney, A., & Cavanaugh, C. (2023). Digital transformation in education: Critical components for leaders of system change. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 8(1), 100479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100479
Mukhtar, S., & Abd Razak, A. Z. (2024). Strategic approaches to enhancing school performance through instructional leadership in Malaysia. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 9(SI20), 75–80. https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v9iSI20.6095
Mutil, G., Busari, A. H., Mazlan, M. N. A., & Ujil, A. T. (2024). Readiness of school leaders in Malaysia to face the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) era: A recent comprehensive structured review. International Journal of Education, Psychology and Counseling, 9(55), 556–575. https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEPC.955037
Orfanidou, C., & Kopsidas, O. (2023). Educational leadership in the age of digital transformation. Education and Information Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11847-5
Prabakaran, N., Patrick, H., & Kareem, J. (2025). Enhancing English language proficiency and digital literacy through metaverse-based learning: A mixed-methods study in higher education. Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, 24(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.28945/5484
Ramalingam, S., Saforrudin, N. B., Harun, N. B., Salamat, Z. B., & Yunus, R. (2024). Enhancing educational leadership through digital transformation: A school-based digital leadership project in Malaysian school. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Studies and Education (ICBE), 358–370. https://www.icbe.my/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/44.pdf
Ramakrishnan, S., Selvarajoo, P. C. B., & Govindarajoo, M. V. V. (2025). English language learning in Malaysian schools: A comparison between government and private schools' teachers’ teaching methodologies to improve student learning. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 9(6), 976–988. https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v9i6.8005
Roberts, R. (2020). Qualitative interview questions: Guidance for novice researchers. The Qualitative Report, 25(9), 1–12.
Sin, Y. A. (2025, February 13). Education Ministry committed to enhancing English proficiency [WATCH]. New Straits Times.
Wu, Z., & Huang, R. (2025). The impact of digital transformation on the quality of college English teaching: The mediating role of teachers’ support. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2025.2467941
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Masdiana Che Jamil, Senthamarai A/P Subramaniam, Norziana Nasir, Zuriah Mad Ali

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.


