School Leadership and Risk Management in Far-Flung Areas: Enhancing Safety and Learning Continuity in Geographically Isolated School

Educational Management and Leadership

Geographically isolated schools face significant challenges that threaten learner safety and disrupt the continuity of education. Candua Rajah Ambag Elementary School, located in Barangay Tenok, Mangudadatu, Maguindanao del Sur, exemplifies such contexts, with limited infrastructure, exposure to natural hazards, and socio-economic and security vulnerabilities. This study examined the level of school leadership practices and risk management strategies, and their relationship, in promoting safe and continuous learning in a far-flung setting. Employing a quantitative descriptive–correlational design, the study involved the school head, ten regular teachers, and five Islamic Studies–Arabic Language teachers using total enumeration sampling. Data were collected through a validated researcher-developed questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and mediation analysis. Results indicated high levels of school leadership, particularly in stakeholder engagement and visionary leadership, alongside strong risk management practices, with safety protocols rated highest. A significant positive relationship (r = 0.71, p = 0.001) was found between leadership practices and risk management strategies, demonstrating that effective leadership enhances preparedness, safety, and learning continuity. Findings highlight the critical role of school leaders in fostering resilient, safe, and sustainable education in far-flung communities.

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