Less than 30 % of school leadership comprises female -Survey

By Inspirer writer.

Survey findings on “Gender Differences in Academic Leadership positions” in 14 districts have revealed that less than 30 percent of leadership positions at school are occupied by female teachers.

Herine Otieno, the Director of Teacher Training Program at African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)-Rwanda which commissioned the study  recently said that the program works with 800 schools and around 3,000 mathematics and science teachers in which the survey was carried out.

“In our survey we found that less than 30 percent of leadership positions at school are occupied by female teachers. The positions are head teachers, heads of departments, dean of studies, among others,” she said.

She said that this is a gap considering that fewer female teachers can make decisions to improve the quality of teaching and learning in schools.

“It is not a gap that is unique to Rwanda, it is all over the world. We have to make efforts to ensure we can get more ladies to be leaders in schools. It is not that women are not interested in these positions. What has emerged is that 80 percent of female teachers indicated that they would like to be leaders in our survey,” she noted.

She said that stakeholders are trying to identify the obstacles and work with female teachers to raise them in leadership positions.

“Representation matters. We have girls and boys. If they grow up not seeing ladies being leaders it creates a misinformed society and reinforces certain stereotypes that ladies cannot lead,” she said.

Otieno said that the representation could help girls grow up with confidence to contribute to the country’s development by boosting science and technology.

Pilot mentoring and coaching program

She said they have gathered ladies who are aspiring to become leaders and have launched a mentoring and coaching program for them.

“We want to start mentoring them right in schools. We also invite those who are already leaders. We are going to initiate a process where we want them to work together. When a head of department is playing their role then the lady is shadowing, they can have conversation on what it means to be head of department,” she said.

Otieno added that they have also launched a scholarship for female teachers as part of a solution to address the gap where 60 percent of corporate scholarship will be given to female teachers.

“Part of the reasons limiting the ladies to leadership is qualification such as A0 degree to be able to lead,” she said.

 “This means more ladies will be qualified for leadership positions in schools. They are not just going to school and doing modules for academic qualifications but they will also do additional short modules on leadership, management skills and others in partnership with universities,” she said.

Female teachers speak out

Ernestine Mukadusabe teaching mathematics and physics in Rusizi district said that while pursuing science courses most people discourage girls saying they are for boys.

“I realized they are even very easy for me. I aspire to improve from being a teacher to a leader in certain school or education leaders in sectors and districts. As ladies we keep applying. However, the  main challenge is lack of confidence among some. Ladies also fear to take risks and lead an institution where they take decisions,” she said.

She added that other challenges include working in remote areas from families when ladies are married.

“They prefer working in schools that are close to their families instead of becoming a leader in remote schools far from their families,” she said.

Brandine Nyirahabimana, a mathematics teacher in Musanze district said that women need to have confidence to pursue science and aspire to become leaders.

“I studied science at university and got an A1 degree when I was already married and I managed it. However this level of education requires to be improved to A0 to be able to lead a school as we were required in some job offers,” she said.

Nyirahabimana has got scholarship from African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) programme to study and complete A0 level.

Esperance Musabeyezu, a school leader in Rusizi district testified that she has been in leadership for 18 years.

“It only requires to be confident and be bold in taking decisions,” she said, adding more female teachers should strive for seeking qualification degrees.

Gaspard Twagirayezu, Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education at the ministry of education said that there are different initiatives that are incentivizing students and females in particular to join education careers.

“For instance we are covering 50 percent of school fees for students in Teacher Training Colleges and females have to benefit,” he said.

He said that they will also get free scholarships to pursue education at university and Master’s degree level.

“The big number of teachers in primary schools are female. This means we urge women to join leadership positions,” he noted.

He said that women are still few in leadership positions in schools due to lack of confidence adding there are equal opportunities on the market.