Why fewer women are rising to secondary school headship in Kenya Gender 53 min ago

Female principals also described encountering scepticism from parents and community members who expected school heads to be men or questioned their authority when they first assumed leadership.“We hope they will also guide policymakers, school boards, and sponsors to see where practical change is possible—from fairer career progression to better support for women balancing leadership and family responsibilities,” he said, calling reforms in hiring and promotion to support women’s career advancement, particularly in mixed schools.

According to the survey, women take longer than men to become school principals—19 years compared with 16 for men—largely because of family responsibilities, mobility limitations and entrenched gender norms at community and institutional levels.