Public Sector Governance: An Assessment of the Level of Understanding among Public Servants of Community Colleges in Pahang

Abstract

Public sector governance is a fundamental pillar for strengthening integrity, transparency, and accountability in organisational administration. Within the context of Community Colleges in Pahang, a sound understanding of effective governance principles is critical to ensuring the continuity of quality educational service delivery. This study aims to assess public servants' level of governance understanding, examine the demographic factors influencing this understanding, and identify the main challenges in its practice. A quantitative approach using a cross-sectional survey design was employed, with data collected through a validated structured questionnaire involving 230 respondents from a population of 422 public servants across ten Community Colleges in Pahang, representing a 54.5% response rate. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics as well as one-way ANOVA and independent samples t-test. The findings reveal that the level of governance understanding is high (mean=4.54, SD=0.44), while practice challenges are moderate (mean=2.64, SD=0.94), reflecting an aggregate knowing-doing gap of 1.895 points on a five-point scale, with 48.3% of respondents experiencing a high gap. Inferential analysis found that differences in the gap across position group, length of service, education level, and gender were not statistically significant (p>0.05), indicating that the gap is pervasive and systemic. However, exposure to integrity training showed a significant effect (t(226)=4.55, p<0.001), with the trained group displaying higher gap awareness. These findings underscore the need for continuous and structured governance training programmes, accompanied by genuine structural reforms in the workplace. This study contributes foundational empirical data towards strengthening a culture of integrity-based governance in the nation's TVET education sector.