Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the challenging factors of female teachers’ participation
in school leadership in North Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State. With this, an attempt was made
to forward possible solutions for these problems. To conduct this study, descriptive survey
method was employed. The participants of this study were 182 teachers selected by using simple
random sampling techniques. Out of this, female teachers constitute 92 whereas the remaining
90 are male teachers. The 6 school principals, 5 Town Education Officials, and 4 Women and
children affairs office holder were also involved in the study. The data were collected by using
questionnaire, interview and document analysis. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis
were employed in order to reach at results. The findings of the study revealed; higher officials
make gender bias while selecting school leader; lack of special support to females to win
competition for leadership position in the education system of the town; they were strong in
making decision; females are less participated as both heads and deputy head teachers: females
have capability to lead secondary school; men consider women as their equal counterparts;
females assume that they will not be successful in leading school; females do not have plan and
set their promotion goals to be school leader. Some of the challenges which could hinder women
representation in educational leadership were for instance, pressure of home responsibilities,
men dominance of management position, unclear promotion procedures. In the finding, the
participants of the study also justified the following as the possible solution for the factors that
affect women representation in leadership. These are providing training for women(Mentoring),
gender awareness campaign, gender fairness in school leadership position, fighting traditions
that hinder the progress of women, ,discourage societal discrimination, change family
traditional structure(societal support), sensitize society to accept women leadership, women
should be self-confident women's self -motivation.
