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.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of Educational Leadership, Faculty of Education
and Communication Sciences, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies,
Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial
Development, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for award of the Master of
Arts (Educational Leadership) degree