Leadership in Kakamega secondary schools: A focus on women headteachers.

Abstract

This study is an anthropological enquiry into leadership in Kakamega secondary schools with a focus on women headteachers , in relation to their men counterparts. The study discusses how Gender determines the style of leadership in the schools. Culturally men tend to be more accepted by the society as leaders and decision-makers than women folk. The interview and questionnaire response to both men and women headteachers is discussed and analyzed. The study is based on data collected between January and April, 1991 from a sample of secondary school teachers, headteachers and officials selected from Kakamega District. The data was derived from primary as well as secondary sources. The primary sources were derived from survey techniques, participant and non-participant observation, and key informants. The secondary sources included archival and library research. The findings of the study reveal that Gender determines the style of leadership. Not all my expectations were fulfilled because I had expected women to be more accepted by society as leaders, especially by fellow women. Instead, the findings on the professional qualifications and experience of staff and the headteachers management practices were as expected. Women heads face constraints from dual career and roles arising from home and work place. The research revealed that 90% of the headteachers are professionally qualified as graduates compared to only 48.9% of the staff who are graduates. Of the education officials only 55% are classified as graduates. Most of the headteachers delegate and administer their schools through heads of departments. The headteachers tend to assign responsibility to the more mature and competent staff members in terms of age and qualifications. The study revealed that 45% of the education officials in the district lack the academic ability and experience to supervise effectively the secondary school headteachers and staff. Finally the study looked into the issue of the headteachers' marital status. It was found that the headteachers who were married commanded high respect from staff and the school community, unlike the separated, divorced and single headteachers. The study found that women headteachers were faced with a heavy work-load at home and at the office which hinders their performance. The study suggested that more day care centres be established for working women with young children. It is said that behind every successful man there is a woman, but for most women to succeed it might be necessary to sensitize the men to support them morally and materially. The study also recommended training programmes for women to concientize and sensitize the Kenyan society at large about the linkage between Gender, equity, development and democracy.