Intelligence

publisher

Enabling a professional learning community in Malaysian rural primary schools: the role of collegial trust

Source
Frontiers in Education
Published
Last verified
20 Aug 2026
Confidence
Moderate
Evidence
Original document retained
Reading time
1 min
Country
International
Relevant to
Partners & Funders, Research & Evidence, Technology & Data

Executive summary

What happened, and why should leadership care?

A recent study investigated the association between different dimensions of collegial trust and teachers' engagement in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) within Malaysian rural primary schools. The research aimed to understand how specific facets of trust act as relational resources for collaboration in geographically isolated and resource-constrained educational settings. The study utilized a cross-sectional correlational survey design, collecting data from 310 teachers across 57 rural primary schools.

Why this matters

Why is this strategically important?

Understanding the role of collegial trust in professional learning communities is crucial for enhancing educational outcomes, particularly in challenging environments. Identifying specific trust dimensions that foster collaboration can inform targeted strategies to improve teacher development and knowledge sharing across an institution or sector.

Key insights

What should be noted from the evidence?

  • The study explores the association between collegial trust dimensions and engagement in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
  • It focuses specifically on teachers within rural primary schools in Malaysia.
  • The research aims to identify which dimensions of collegial trust sustain collaboration in isolated and resource-constrained educational contexts.
  • A cross-sectional correlational survey design was employed for data collection.
  • Data was gathered from 310 teachers using proportional cluster random sampling across 57 rural schools.

Evidence and confidence

How far can this assessment be trusted?

Moderate confidence. Provenance established; supporting evidence remains partial.

Analysis is prepared editorially by Aziz Shuaib Ausi. The original publication remains the authoritative record, and executive judgement remains entirely human.

Source

Where does this originate?

Reported by Frontiers in Education · International. This briefing summarises the publication for executive use; the document itself is not reproduced here.

Read the original publication