A study of attitudes towards female administrators in mixed secondary schools in Machakos central and Kangundo Divisions in Machakos District, Kenya.

Abstract

Gender issues have remained a thorn in the flesh of many gender sensitive individuals. While there are many factors that contribute to the female under representation in the school administrative structures, the head teachers' attitudes were chosen for study in this research. The research was conducted in Kangundo and Machakos Central divisions of Machakos district. The research design used was the causal comparative type of the Expost- Facto research design. This design was selected for its ability to discover possible causes for the phenomenon under study by comparing subjects in whom characteristics were present with those similar subjects in whom they were absent or present at a lesser extent. Target population was mainly the head teachers or the mixed secondary schools. ;\ sample size of 52 heads from these schools was used. Document analysis and a questionnaire were used as research instruments. For the former. staff returns obtained from Machakos District Education office were used. The questionnaires had three sections. Section one was used to capture information on the background or the respondents while section two which was designed in line with the Lickert summated rating scale was used to elicit responses that were used to gauge the respondents attitudes towards female administrators. Section three had items that were used to gauge the respondents level or satisfaction with female teacher performances of administrative duties. To form base for the study, related literature was reviewed. mainly on administration, career development, promotion, performance appraisals and the attitude concept. Six.objectives together with two research questions and four null hypotheses were set to maintain focus throughout the study. The research found out the following: - I. More head teachers had a positive attitude toward female teacher appointment that is, 55.2% as compared to those with negative attitude that is, 44.74%. Most of the head teachers, that is. 65.79% had their first appointment into administration done by their respective heads . 3. Male teachers headed most of the mixed secondary schools ..that is. 97.3 7% compared to those headed by female teachers. that is. 2.63%. 4. Ouite a number of heads had got appointments due to having a good rapport with the head teacher, that is. 36.84% 5. Female teacher representation in the administration was still very low, that is. 20.8% as compared to their male counter parts who represented 79.2%. 6. There were more T.S.C appointed female H.O.D. that is. 18.54% as compared to the male ones who constituted 15.73%. 7. A reasonably big number of the heads, that is 28.95% wen: unsatisfied with the performance or female teachers in the administrative duties. 8 .Aged long serviced and adequately in-serviced head teachers had positive altitudes towards female administrators, while educational level did not affect the attitudes or the individuals. RECOMMENDATIONS I. The current system of teacher performance appraisal is based on the head teachers' perception of the teachers. This information is filled annually as returns to the T.S.C. This system is open to abuse since there is the probability of the head teacher being biased due to other occurrences that may not be career oriented. This is supported by the relatively big percentage of head teachers that is, 36.84% who had been appointed due to a good rapport with their heads. The T.S.C should design a multi-faceted appraisal programme for the teachers which can in- corporate many aspects 01' the leaching career. 2. The T.S.C should recognize the senior teacher post and lay down procedures of promotion to this post just as it is currently with the other senior posts. 3. The Ministry of Education Science and Technology together with the T.S.C should organize for more in-service training for the educational administrators so as to change their attitudes towards female teachers. 4. Headteachers should be encouraged to always use merit while making internal appointments. The old professionals should be given priority as age was found to influence one's attitude towards female administrators.