A phenomenological study of the lived experiences of female heads of basic schools in the Nkoranza South Municipality

Abstract

The study employed a phenomenological design to explore the subjective lived experiences of female heads of basic schools in the Nkoranza South Municipality. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of female heads of basic schools in the Nkoranza South Municipality. Four female heads of basic schools were interviewed using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion. The interviews were digitally recorded and later transcribed verbatim. The results of the study in relation to the first research question indicated that the participants’ lived experiences mainly centred on the skills they garnered, their experiences with the communities where their schools are situated, their mixed experiences with staff and students and how they balanced their family roles as women and mothers in relation to their positions as headmistresses. The participants used various coping strategies such as exercising their emotional intelligence, showcasing their practical capabilities, uniting with their trouble makers and reacting harshly to some male staff members who kept disturbing them. The coping strategies employed were beneficial in the administration of their duties as headmistresses. It is recommended that special preservice training and orientation programmes should be organise for female heads of basic schools to enlighten them on how to perform their duties effectively in maledominated societies such as the African society.