Factors influencing female teachers ascend to headship position in public primary schools in Loitokitok district, Kajiado county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors influencing female teachers to headship position in public primary schools in Loitokitok District, Kajiado County, Kenya, The objective was to assess social cultural beliefs and practices and. their influence on female teachers to headship position, examine Ministry of Education policy on promotion to headship and how it impact on female teachers in taking up headship position, investigate the attitude female teachers have towards headship roles, and determine how community perception on female head teachers affect female teachers participation in the headship of public primary schools in the district. The study was based on the great man's theory of leadership which suggests that the capacity for leadership is an in born; that great leaders are born not made. The study adopted a descriptive survey design.

The population included all the eighty schools in the district. A sample of 1 DEO, 3 AEOs, 20 headteachers and 80 teachers was selected using stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaire tools were adopted to collect the data. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to test the reliability of the tools. A questionnaire return rate of 97% was achieved which was deemed very good for data analysis. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 17.0. The study found out that female teachers did not seek promotions positions out of the fear of being posted away from their homes, that marital obligations hindered female teachers from seeking headship positions, that academic qualification was an important issue for one to be considered for promotion, and that the surrounding community perceived that women's place was on domestic chores.

The study recommended that TSC should reinforce teachers' promotions procedures in the district. That the Ministry of Education encourages more female teachers to apply for promotions to headship positions and that the Ministry of Education provides housing for headteachers. Further studies was suggested to be conducted on whether the gender ofthe headteacher in the district affected performance in schools.