Development of Madrasah Teacher Leadership Competency: Involving Project-Based Learning Methods in Students-Centered Learning

This study explores whether increasing the use of project-based learning (PBL) by madrasah aliyah teachers in Indonesia improves the leadership competence of madrasah teachers in education. Using data collected from a project-based learning (PBL) intervention program, this study used a quasi-experimental method to assess how PBL is associated with teachers' leadership competence and analyzed using a t-test. Generally, the leadership competence of madrasah teachers is only considered a determinant of the practice of teaching Islamic religious education. Still, we found that the leadership competence of madrasah teachers can be positively influenced by the increased use of PBL in learning. Among the madrasah teacher leadership competence subscales, PBL is positively related to student engagement and teaching in learning. Analysis using student data shows that students' positive responses to Islamic religious education learning practices can mediate the relationship between PBL and the leadership competence of madrasa teachers. This research has implications for developing the PBL model in improving the leadership competence of madrasa teachers in learning Islamic religious education.