Internal Publication
Exploring the aspirations for headship among female administrators in public primary schools in Kenya
Successful leadership is a function of identifying the factors that influence aspirations to pursue headship positions and the belief of others in women leaders. The economic growth of nations requires the active involvement of all people irrespective of gender. Sustainable Development Goals, the vision 2030 and the constitution of Kenya, all remain focused to empower women in leadership and all spheres of influence. The purpose of this study was to explore aspirations for headship among female administrators in public primary schools in Tharaka Nithi County in Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to: determine the female administrators’ self-efficacy that influence their aspirations for headship, identify socio-cultural factors that influence female administrators’ aspirations for headship and finally examine institutional factors that affect female administrators’ aspirations for headship in public primary schools. This research was anchored on the theory of planned behavior as expressed by Ajzen. The philosophical underpinning for the study was pragmatic paradigm. This study used a mixed method design which employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Concurrent triangulation design was applied in data collection and analysis. Both probabilistic and non-probabilistic techniques of sampling were used. The study population consisted of all the female administrators from the 470 schools in the Tharaka Nithi County. Simple random technique of sampling was used in order to obtain a sample size of 175 women administrators out of total population of 320 administrators. Purposive sampling technique was used to sample 10 female deputy head teachers to participate in the interview. A survey questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data and interview guide was used to generate qualitative data. Data was collected concurrently. Piloting of the instruments was done in two schools in the neighbouring county of Meru. Ethical issues were strictly observed at all levels. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the qualitative data was analysed thematically. Both results were integrated at the interpretation stage. From the findings it was found out the low aspiration rates among female administrators were a function of low self-efficacy which works together with other factors like academic qualification to discourage them to ascend into headship. Moreover, the findings of the study revealed that factors such as the tasks of the job, domestic responsibilities of women and the societal in acceptance of female heads do influence aspirations for headship. In addition factors such as geographical context of the school, transfers, lack of role models and support from other school administrators greatly affects women aspirations for headship. It is therefore hoped that the findings and the recommendations of this study will be useful to educational planners and other stake holders in coming up with appropriate measures to solve the problem of low aspirations for headship among female administrators in public primary schools.
Uploaded by: Japheth NoelAuthor: Kamba, Elizabeth
Institution: Moi University | Centre: East and South African-German Centre for Educational Research, Methodologies and Management (CERM-ESA)
Thesis Supervisor(s): Kiprop, Catherine | Sanga, Philipo Lonati
Type: Theses | Master’s | English
Subjects: Education
Date: May, 2019 | Pages: xii, 134
Copyright: The Author | License: Open Access
