Challenges Facing Women In School Management A Case Of Primary Schools In Siaya County Kenya

ABSTRACT

Worldwide Statistic provides that, women are underrepresented in management position in education. Therefore this study sought to investigate challenges facing women involvement in educational management in Siaya County. The study objectives were to determine women representation in positions of school management, to analyze the social-cultural, economic and administrative factors and find out the strategies that women in positions of school management use in coping with the challenges. The study will be of great significance to the Ministry of Education, women and the society. The study used the Error Management theory. The descriptive survey design was used in the study. The study was conducted in Siaya County, Nyanza Province. The study targeted 6 District Education Officers (DEOs), 16 Area Education Officers (AEOs), 131 Head teachers and 131 deputy head teachers in 131 public primary schools in Siaya County. A sample of 30% (39) of the 131 head teachers and deputy head teachers were taken and 30% (2) of District Education Officers (DEOs), 30% (6) AEO’s were chosen using the simple random sampling method making a total of a sample size of 85 respondents. The study used the questionnaire as the major data collection instrument. The data collected was analyzed using the quantitative and qualitative methods. The study found that women representation in the school management is one of the major challenges that have downtrodden the female manager for very long time, that social cultural, economic and administrative factors have been a big contributor and driver of any successes and challenges in different organizations and in individual development. The study also found that for women to have equal management positions with men, image perceived by themselves and by the community, including cultural practices should start being dealt with from the community level. The study concluded that there should be set lobby groups and strict constitutional fines to ensure women are strictly well represented and to avoid those who cannot tolerate the equability of women and men in the top management of school education. The study concluded that there should be a personal effort to ensure they position themselves in the market that when an opportunity erupts then they can be easily assimilated. Women should ensure that they have the necessary skills to work as top education managers, should be willing to take up the task, and should be willing to maintain the managerial position through work performance. The study recommends that women provide motivation to themselves to ensure that besides the positions of top management that have been favorably been given through constitution, they should never be satisfied with just those but come forward and showcase their talents. It is recommended that women should be the motivators of others. The study recommends that the women managers develop different strategies depending on the field in which they are working, depending with job circumstances, and also depending with the environment and people they are dealing with.