| Abstract: | The major purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Academic staff's Perceptions towards
female students’ affirmative action in Wolaita Sodo University. I employed case study method to
assess respondents’ opinions and rich experience concerning female affirmative action. I targeted
in to four main groups of respondents: 10 Academic staff, 8 female students, 1 gender coordinator
and 3 gender focal persons. The respondents were selected using purposive sampling technique.
To collect the necessary data, face to face interviews, focus group discussion and document
analysis were used. Information gathered from the respondents were reported and analyzed by
describing, classifying and associating of the information based on the major themes of affirmative
action. The result of the study indicates that in its current status, academic staff's perceptions
towards female students’ affirmative action were found varied. Majority of the respondents
perceived that female affirmative act ion policy is indispensable as it improves female
students’ competence. However, its implementation in various departments tended not to be
regular and consistent.A great number of respondents also reported that female access to higher
education was found high though access to resources (i.e., female library, adequate books and
internet services, adequate water) was discovered as inadequate. Thus, it can be argued from this
study that academic staff perceptions concerning the definition and significance of female
affirmative action were found positive. It can also be said that academic staff's perception towards
female student' support, gender friendly environment, access to various resources and department
placement were found low and inconsistent across different departments. The recommendations
forwarded includeprovide targeted support for economically disadvantaged female students
financially and materially. Besides, support female students to adapt to University life in a safe,
healthy and creative way (i.e., providing orientation sessions, friendly ceremonies on the social
dynamics of campus life, positive and negative peer pressure, and coping and adaptation
mechanisms). Due attention has to be also given to quality of light, and fencing around campus,
well furnished libraries, female students reading rooms and separate ICT centres, full dormitory
services, safety, security and gender friendly environment. |
