Challenges facing female head teachers of public junior high schools in Bolgatanga Municipality of Upper East Region

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges facing female head teachers of Junior High Schools in the Bolgatanga Municipal of the Upper East Region. The objectives of the study were to identify the socio-cultural challenges that female headteachers face in carrying their roles and responsibilities, identify the organizational related challenges facing the headteachers and to determine the support systems put in place for the female headteacher to improve upon their performance. The study used descriptive survey as the research design. The targeted population was all the 293 female heads and female teachers of public Junior High schools in the Bolgatanga Municipality. Purposive sampling was used to select female heads while simple random sampling was used to select the females teachers for the study. The researcher used questionnaire with closed ended questions to gather data for the study. The study found, among others that the negative attitude of people towards female leadership and the perception of females being inferior to men are socio-cultural challenges of the female headteachers. Inadequate financial resources and problem of balancing reproductive and workplace functions are other challenges facing the female headteacher. Support systems put in place for the female headteachers were the provision of teaching and learning materials and provision of professional training and development. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Ghana Education Service in collaboration with the Ministry of Education should organize awareness creation through PTA meetings, seminars and forums to sensitize parents and guardians on the importance of female education.