Uncovering Administration Challenges Faced by Female Social Sciences Heads of Department in Selected Secondary Schools of Lusaka Urban District in Zambia

Abstract

Managing a school department should be tilted towards achieving set goals and creating value for the education system. There seems to be poor performance in social sciences departments that are headed by females in secondary schools. This inefficiency at departmental levels has negative impact on the overall performance of schools. Therefore, the aim of this study is to unearth issues related to management of social sciences departments by female heads in some secondary schools in Zambia. The study followed a descriptive research design to generate evidence on experiences of female headed social sciences departments in some secondary schools. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews from a total sample of 25 participants. The data was analysed using a thematic approach with elements of comparative analysis especially across the gender spectrum. The findings show that subject loads, constrained resources especially teaching aids, managing high numbers of staff in the departments as well as teacher absenteeism were main challenges faced. It was also found that the high rate of permission, to be out of school, seeking behaviours to stay away from work by some teachers compromised teaching thereby testing the leadership of these female heads. Additionally, the limited office space or lack of adequate infrastructure for operations such lesson plan preparations hampered effective management of social science department. Therefore, the study concluded that challenges experienced by female social sciences heads of department are both structural and material. It is recommended here that the Ministry of Education should increase funding in social sciences departments as they represent the largest in schools. Also, the school administrators to be organizing and offering periodic training to the Heads of departments in various subject areas on their roles so as to get acquitted with new changes in the school system.