FACTOR AFFECTING FEMALE TEACHERS PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF DIRE DAWA CITY ADMINISTRATION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The overall objective of this study was to explore the problems responsible for under representation of females in the secondary school leadership in the case of Dire Dawa City Administration. More specifically, the study sought to investigate the current status of female teachers in Dire Dawa City Administration secondary schools, to examine the factors that hinder females to accept educational leadership particularly in secondary school principal ship, to identify the way in which females could be aspired and develop self confidence in order to be efficient leaders. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed for this study. To collect the main data questionnaires were administered among 46 female teachers and 5 female vice principals. Furthermore, empirical materials were gathered from Dire Dawa City Administration education office and the sample secondary schools, 5 female teachers and 3 Dire Dawa City Administration education bureau through interviews were analyzed the mathematically. The data collected via questionnaires were computed through percentage, mean and mainly weighted mean. Results indicated from all the items stated most of female teachers involvement was moderate. However two items such as home and family responsibility and educational institutions do not have transparent selection criteria were found great impact on females’ involvement of school leadership. Lacks of confidence because of the social background in the culture of the community in general, females are not leaders; they are followers rather. As a result of lack of confidence, they are not aspired to become leaders. In addition, females do not have opportunities to gain bottom experiences in educational leadership that would help them for further advancement because the school leadership was men dominated in tradition. The overall recommendations of the study was the government, society and the stakeholders should give great emphasis to work on females leadership, since the country’s half of the population is females, wastage of females resource should be minimized. Based on the results, further studies have been recommended.