Abstract:
The general objective of this thesis was to assess and determine the challenges facing women aspiring for
school leadership positions in the case of Wost Sowa Zone Abuna Gendeberet woreda. This district is
located in Oromiya, west shoa zone Abuna Gindaberet woreda and has a total of 40 public primary
schools. Descriptive survey was adopted for the study involving both quantitative and qualitative
research methods techniques. Stratified random sampling was used to select the respondents from the
targeted population. The participants of the study were a total of 16 principals, 111 teachers, 12 woreda
education officers, and 8 woreda women affairs officers. The total sampled population was 147
participants. Two types of research instruments were used namely; questionnaires and interview
schedules. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics frequencies and percentages where SPSS 20
version program was used. The study recognized the ratio of women head teachers to that of men was
1:7, the community was gender irresponsive, limited possessions, negative attitudes of the society, and the
patriarchal ideology that dominated the culture, unwillingness in applying for the posts, disrespect and
stereotyping by male counterparts, lack of role models, dealing with difficult teachers and School
management cooperative members as well as home-work conflicts. The report recommended that the
Ministry of education with education bureau and Oromiya education office have to revise the policy,
strategy and selection criteria used to appoint primary school principals and serious reflection should be
given form giving main concern to female teachers to train to develop their self-confidence, teachers
service commission to give equal priorities to all gender, strengthen inset, workshops and seminars to
prepare teachers and newly appointed heads and deputy head teachers for administration and
management and ensure good gender staffing. Based on the results, further studies have been
recommended.
