| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to determine the role expectations of the women deputy head teachers. It investigated how women deputy heads performed their roles. It also sought to establish if they experienced contradictory expectations leading to role conflicts in relation to their position and gender. The study examined the extent of empowerment of the women deputies in coping with these conflicts and how it affected their performance.
The pilot study consisted of two head teachers; two deputy head teachers and six teachers in three different schools and the final research covered 26 deputy head teachers, 45 teachers and 16 head teachers. The lack of response by some of the respondents did not affect the end result. The validity of reliability of the instrument was tested during the pilot study where the respondents were asked to make alteration, additions or delete sections that were not clear. These alterations were in co-operated for form the final instrument that was used in data collections.
The study adopted a research design with a target population of all teachers, head teachers and deputy head teachers in 35 public secondary schools where the deputies were women. Purposive sampling was used to select public secondary schools whose deputy head teachers are women. Stratified sampling was used to select a sample of the teachers by gender. The data were collected using a questionnaire and an analysis of which was carried out in SPSS package.
Among the main findings of the study were that the functions of Curriculum and instruction, organization and administration were the ones most associated with the deputy head teachers according to 84.1% teachers. Although 90.9% of the deputies said they carried out the role of leadership always/frequently, the other respondents were less positive that the deputies performed leadership roles (37.8% and 60% for teachers and head teachers respectively). Equally,• there were steep differences in teachers (by sex) opinion with regard to deputies carrying out the roles of liaison,
leadership and resource allocation. The study recommended that schools adopt a system for training of the head teachers to equip them skills required to run the offices. In addition, it was recommended that the roles, functions of a deputy head teacher be clearly spelt out to avoid misunderstanding.
Its purpose seems to be, to make it very difficult for women and men to work together effectively. It was found out that female teachers were generally more approval of the capabilities of female deputy head teacher compared to their male counterparts. It is recommended that female deputy head teachers be trained on the best ways to amicably handle teacher issues to gain their confidence. It was revealed that most female teachers shied away from leadership positions. It is recommended that schools encourage more of them to rise up and work for such positions. Schools should appoint more women into departmental leadership so they can build their confidence and invoke their leadership potential. | en |
