Gender Roles and Women Participation in Leadership of Public Primary Schools in Kirinyaga Central District in Kenya

ABSTRACT 

The purpose of the study was to determine the Gender roles and women participation in leadership. The study investigated the factors that seem to hinder women teachers from progressing to positions of leadership in public primary schools, in Kirinyaga Central District in Kenya. To achieve this, four research questions were formulated to guide the study. The first question sought to determine the profile of the respondents. The second question sought to establish gender roles of women. The third question sought to determine the levels of perception of women participation in leadership and the final question sought to establish whether there is a relationship between gender roles and women participation in leadership. The study was carried out in Kirinyaga Central District, which has 36 public primary schools from which 10 schools were sampled and (4) teachers in every school filled the questionnaire. The random sampling method was used to identify the schools. Descriptive correlating research design was adopted, the purpose of the design was to study the relationship that exist between Gender role and women participation in leadership positions as exemplified in public primary schools. The researcher employed self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared because all those who took part were literate. The result showed that women were under represented in leadership of public primary schools, Factors like Gender roles and negative women perception of themselves were seen to be the major drawbacks was recommended that education policy makers should encourage women to apply for leadership positions. Appointments should be based on affirmative action. Communities should be educated to appreciate and see women role in leadership as good as that of males.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Declaration A

Declaration B ii

Approval sheet iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgment v

List of Abbreviations vi

Abstract

Table of contents viii

List of tables xi

Chapter Page

One THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE 1

Background of the study 1

Statement of the problem 6

Purpose of the study 6

Research Objectives 6

General objective 6

Specific objective 6

Research questions 7

Null Hypothesis 7

Scope of the study 8

Content scope 8

Geographical scope 8

Significance of the study 8

Definition of key operational terms 8

Two REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 10

Introduction 10

Concepts, opinions, ideas, from Authors! Experts io

Theoretical perspective 11

Related studies 11

Three METHODOLOGY 27

Research Design 27

Research population 27

Sample Size 28

Research instruments 28

Instrument validity and reliability 28

Data gathering procedures 29

Data Analysis 29

Ethnical Consideration 29

Umitations of the Study 31

Four PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA 31

Five FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONLUSION 37

Introduction 37

DiscussIon 38

Recommendations 38

References 39

Appendices

Appendbc I- Transmittal Letter 43

Appendix I B Transmittal Letter for the respondents 44

Appendix II Clearance from ethIcs committee 45

Appendix UI Informed consent 47

Appendix IV A Face sheet profile for the respondents 48

Appendix IV Questionnaire 49

Appendix V Curriculum vitae 53