Systematic Analysis of School Leadership in Vocational Education Settings: Structure, Roles, and Challenges

Abstract

Abstract - This study aims to systematically analyze the leadership characteristics of school principals in the Vocational High School (SMK) environment through the Systematic Literature Review (TLS) approach. This research focuses on school organizations, the important role of principals, and the challenges faced in the implementation of vocational education leadership. The information was obtained from scientific journals published between 2019 and 2024 through a search on Google Scholar, and was selected until ten suitable articles were obtained. The research findings show that the leadership effectiveness of a school principal is largely determined by managerial skills, transformational approach, and adaptability to external changes. Challenges often faced include differences between curriculum and industry demands, lack of facilities, and low involvement of outside stakeholders. This study suggests strengthening a collaborative, participatory leadership style, and increasing institutional support and ongoing training for school principals. The results of this research are expected to be the foundation for the development of more relevant and creative leadership models in the context of vocational education.