Factors Affecting Female Teachers Participation in Educational Leadership: The Case of Secondary Schools in Addis Ababa Kirkos Sub City

Abstract

The overall objective of this study was to explore the problems responsible for underrepresentation of females in the secondary school leadership in the case of Kirkos sub city Addis Ababa. More specifically, the study sought to investigate the current status of female teachers in Kirkos sub city of Addis Ababa city administration secondary schools, to examine the factors that hinder females to accept educational leadership particularly in secondary school principal ship, to identify the way in which women could be aspired and develop self confidence in order to be efficient leaders. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed for this study. To collect the main data questionnaires were administered among 88 male teachers, 22 female teachers, 10 male and 2 female principals and vice principals. Furthermore, empirical materials were gathered from Kirkos sub city education office and the sample secondary schools, 8 female teachers and 3 Kirkos sub city education bureau supervisors through interviews were analyzed thematically. The data collected via questionnaires were computed through percentage, mean and mainly weighted mean. Results indicated from all the items stated most of female teachers participation was moderate. However two items such as home and family responsibility and educational institutions do not have transparent selection criteria were found great impact on females‟ participation of school leadership. Lacks of confidence because of the social back ground in the culture of the community in general, females are not leaders; they are followers rather. As a result of lack of confidence, they are not aspired to become leaders. In addition, females do not have opportunities to gain bottom experiences in educational leadership that would help them for further advancement because the school leadership was men dominated in tradition. The overall recommendations of the study was the government, society and the stakeholders should give great emphasis to work on women leadership, since the country‟s half of the population is women, wastage of women resource should be minimized. Based on the results, further studies have been recommended.