Social Cultural Factors Influencing Appointment of Headteachers in Primary Schools in Eldoret East Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Headteachers’ position is at the critical point of which all the mechanism of Education system: planning, delivery and management rest. The purpose of the study was to investigate social cultural factors influencing appointment of headteachers in primary schools in Eldoret East Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County. The target population comprised of 275 respondents who were: head teachers, deputy head teachers, members of appointment committee in the Sub-County Education office noted as the DEO, DQASO, QASOS, AEOS, DSO, DHRO and KNUT Executive official. The study used questionnaires and interview schedules as tools of data collection. Findings of the research showed that males dominate headship positions in primary schools in the sub county where even the constitutional threshold of 30% has not been attained. It was found out that female leadership is devalued the study area. Respondents indicated that stereotypes associated with social cultural factors had significant influence on the appointment of heads of schools in Eldoret East Sub County. Women teachers not given equal chances to apply for headship position due to cultural beliefs that the society has towards them. There is need for selection panels not to focus on socio-cultural issues that may affect women ascendancy to school leadership. The selection panels need to forego socio-cultural factors that may affect women teachers’ promotion to school headship.

Keywords: social, cultural, factors, appointment and head teachers