Abstract:
This study aimed at identifying the major challenges in promoting female teachers to have
educational leadership position in Haramaya University. To conduct this study, QUANQUAL
mixed research design was employed. The participants of this study were 166
respondents and 8 interviewees, 98 female lectures, 46 department heads, 11 school heads
and 11 college dean/ associate dean/, academic vice president and gender affairs directorate
were selected by purposive and available sample techniques. The data were collected by
using questionnaire, interview, and document reviews. Both quantitative and qualitative
methods of data analysis were employed in order to reach at the findings. Later the
researcher reaches on potential problems that narrowed females partaking in educational
leadership position. Such as the national gender policy and strategies problem, the university
rule and regulations on gender mainstreaming problem, socio-cultural factors and females
self esteem problem. And also lack of opportunities at the bottom of higher educational
institution due to visible and in visible socio cultural factor and in general and lack of
effective policy and strategies on the grass root level to empower and train females as a
leader and the problem of awareness creation are particular major obstacle for further
female advancement in educational leadership in male dominated higher educational
institution. The study finding showed that in order increase female participation in higher
educational institution the concerned body should to increase gender balance in teachingstaff helps to get more female competent educational leaders. In addition, the university
administration has to work jointly with governmental and none governmental organization to
bring attitudinal changes in the communities to evade the stereotypic misconception about
females and on the female attitudinal change. Finally, the policy makers should enact
functional national policies and strategies which give opportunities for females at grass root
level better implemented so as to attract as many female candidates as possible for
enhancing their involvement in all level of leadership positions.
