Women in the Society

This book examines the participation of women in educational leadership positions. Specifically, the study addresses the problems encountered by women in the municipal primary schools of Nairobi and Thika in Kenya from advancing to senior administrative positions in school management. The study also identifies what needs to be done in order for women to be integrated into leadership positions in proportion equal to which they are represented in the teaching force. This is a qualitative study that entailed the use of interviews, focus groups and documentary analysis research techniques to collect data. Semi-structured interviews with Ministry of Education personnel, head teachers, deputy head teachers and women teachers were conducted. Two purposefully sampled focus groups were convened with some selected head teachers and deputies, and women teachers. From these focus groups, clarification on issues that emerged during the interviews was sought. Lastly, documentary data were gathered to supplement interview and focus group data.