Principal’s Strategies in Improving Teachers’ Pedagogical Competence (A Qualitative Descriptive Study at SMA Negeri 14, Mukomuko, Bengkulu, Indonesia)

 This study aims to describe the strategies employed by the principal to improve the pedagogical competence of teachers at SMA Negeri 14 Mukomuko (Senior High School), Bengkulu, Indonesia. This research utilizes a qualitative approach with data collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. The data management process involved data collection, data reduction, and drawing conclusions. The results indicate that: (1) the principal implements various strategies to enhance teachers’ competence, including involving teachers in teacher education and training programm, supervision, fostering teacher creativity, motivating teachers, conducting seminars and workshops, microteaching, improving facilities and infrastructure, and encouraging teacher participation in subject teacher forums; (2) supporting factors include the principal’s active facilitation of training and motivation, while inhibiting factors consist of limited use of media and learning technology by some teachers and insufficient facilities such as technological devices; (3) the impact of these strategies includes optimal use of time, effort, and budget, as well as increased teacher knowledge. This study reveals the principal’s locally based strategies at SMA Negeri 14 Mukomuko, Bengkulu, Indonesia to improve pedagogical competence through transformational, reflective, and collaborative approaches. Furthermore, this research updates the literature by focusing on leadership strategy adaptation in relation to the Merdeka Belajar curriculum and the use of technology in rural school learning environments.