Management challenges experienced by women principals in three rural secondary schools in Ndwedwe circuit in the Ilembe district.
Date
2013
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Abstract
This study investigated the management challenges experienced by women principals in
Ndwedwe Circuit in the Ilembe District. The rationale of the study was to explore women
principals’ experiences and strategies in a male dominated environment and their perceptions
on gender equity issues in educational management. This qualitative study was set in
interpretive paradigm.
The research tools comprised of semi-structured interviews, documents review and
observations. The two theories which underpinned this study are theories of inequality and
rurality theories. A review of international and local literature on issues of women in
management positions revealed that women in management experience challenges in the
work place.
The findings of this research were an eye-opener to me. Conclusions such as
underdevelopment of rural areas; illiteracy of some parent component members; scarce
public transport; women experience inequality; learners also one of the biggest challenge and
the Department of Education not fulfilling its obligation to capacitate women principals.
Some of the recommendations based on the findings are that rural areas must be developed.
The SGBs must continuously be work-shopped so that they can be capacitated and
empowered to contribute efficiently to the school. Gender education and community
involvement will also assist women managers in managing schools freely and confidently
because they will be judged as principals not as women.
The Department of Education officials must implement the programmes that are in place on
developing women managers so that they are compared to male counterparts because they
need to prove that they are capable to hold those positions.
Description
M. Ed. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2013.
Keywords
Women executives--KwaZulu-Natal., School principals--KwaZulu-Natal., Women in education--KwaZulu-Natal., Leadership in women--KwaZulu-Natal., School-based management--KwaZulu-Natal., Theses--Education.