Challenges Faced by Female Headteachers in the Management of Secondary Schools: A Case of Kangundo District in Machakos County, Kenya
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Date
2013-08-14
Authors
Kitele, Angelica Nzeli
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Abstract
School leadership in Kenyan schools is the function of the head teacher. The purpose
of this study was to investigate and identify the challenges faced by female head
teachers in the management of secondary schools in Kangundo district and to suggest
strategies for coping with the challenges. The study was guided by the following
objectives; to investigate and identify the challenges faced by female head teachers in
the management; to find out the effectiveness of female head teachers with regard to
time management; to find out if cultural and social barriers interfere with management
of secondary schools by female teachers; to establish the attitudes of staff members
and other stakeholders towards female head teachers; to find out the influence of
psycholo@cal factors on women with t«~(l,td tQ m~t\.~~m\iRt Qt ~~~Q,.\\Q.~\l')\Q,"'~'tQ,
establish the professional development needs of female head teachers on management
of secondary schools and to find out the strategies devised by the female head
teachers to cope with the challenges they face in management of secondary schools.
The study was conducted in Kangundo district in Machakos County. The target
population in this study were the female head teachers in Kangundo district, teachers,
students and the Quality Assurance and Standards Officers in the DEO'S office.
Kangundo district has 45 secondary schools, of which ten (10) are headed by female
headteachers. The researcher used questionnaires and interview guides for collection
of data. The data obtained was both quantitative and qualitative. The data was
analyzed by use of SPSS and summarized into percentages, and frequency
distributions. The information was represented through tabulation and graphs. The
study revealed that 80.0% of the teachers liked the way the head teachers managed the
school. Fifty six (56.7%) of the teachers noted that the head teachers were good in
performing their duties with regard to time management, 80.0% of them also noted
that cultural and social issues interfered with the management of school affairs.
Majority of the teachers (75.0%) said-that their perception towards their head teachers
was good. Majority of the teachers (86'.7%) noted that psychological traits do not bar
the head teachers from performing school duties effectively. About 80.0% of the
teachers noted that the students accorded male and female teachers the same level of
respect. The following conclusions were drawn. Female head teachers are positively
viewed by their teachers and are approachable by the students since they encourage
them to work to attain their goals in schools. Female head teachers are effective in
regard to time management in the management of secondary schools since they are
able to follow the laid down policies hence achieve the goals of their institutions.
Cultural and social barriers interfere with the management of school affairs. Half
(50%) of the head teachers said there was no role conflict between domestic and
professional roles while 50% of head teachers felt that there was conflict. On the
psychological factors influencing the head teachers' performance, 86.7% of the
teachers said that biological traits did not bar the head teachers from performing
school duties. This was because they had a teaching experience,' were assertive and
aggressive. The training programmes on education management for teachers were not
organized in schools. The schools lacked funds to organize training and only KEMI
organized training for head teachers. The study recommended that since female
head teachers were positively viewed by students and teachers, there is need to be
given more posts of leadership in secondary schools .. The female head teachers are
effective hence they are able to achieve the goals of their respective institutions.
Although cultural and social barriers may interfere with the management of school
affairs, there is need for female head teachers to be encouraged to achieve leadership
positions since .they can manage the roles of leaders through mentorship.
Description
Department of Educational Management Policy & Curriculum Studies, 86 p. The LB 2822.3 .K4K52 2013
Keywords
High school principals --Kenya --Machakos County --Kangundo District, School management and organization --Kenya --Machakos County --Kangundo District, Education,secondary --Kenya --Machakos County --Kangundo District