Fonsén, ElinaModise, MatshedisoMikayilova, UlviyyaHeikkinen, Kirsi- MarjaMatjokana, Tuelo NellyTurani, DanielRoponen, Hannele2026-02-272026-02-272025-05-29Elina Fonsén, Matshediso Modise, Ulviyya Mikayilova, Kirsi-Marja Heikkinen, Tuelo Matjokana, Daniel Turani & Hannele Roponen (2025) The project on Early Childhood Development leadership training in rural area of South Africa, Educational Studies, 51:6, 1300-1319, DOI: 10.1080/03055698.2025.2511916.0305-5698 (print)1465-3400 (online)10.1080/03055698.2025.2511916http://hdl.handle.net/2263/108687This study investigates the Pedagogical Leadership Training Project aimed at enhancing leadership in rural Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in South Africa. It addresses the prevalent economic-focused leadership that neglects pedagogical issues, hindering access to government funding and regulatory compliance. The research explores the need for professional development of ECD leaders and their learning experiences through the project. Using an iterative, cyclical approach aligned with action research principles, the study includes pre- and post-training surveys to gather demographic, job-related, and management information, and refine training sessions based on feedback. The findings highlight the critical role of ECD leaders in educational and administrative capacities, emphasising the necessity of leadership development and its impact on improving competencies. The study underscores the importance of pedagogical leadership in fostering quality education and effective management, advocating for government support, improved funding, and comprehensive training frameworks to enhance ECD practices in South Africa.en© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.Early childhood education and developmentLeadershipQualitative action researchLeadership trainingEarly childhood development (ECD)Article