Navorsing oor die beleefde ervaring van vroue-adjunkhoofde: ʼn studie van vier skole in die Overberg Onderwysdistrik

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2017ENGLISH ABSTRACT : This research study investigated the lived experience of a selected group of four women deputy principals in the Overberg Education District. In South Africa and globally, women hold the majority of posts in education but men are appointed in the promotion posts. Research has shown that there are numerous barriers that prohibit women from being appointed in promotion posts. These barriers are for instance socio–cultural factors, expectations of their communities and women’s perceptions of themselves. This research study was an attempt to investigate how the lived experiences of women deputy principals could illuminate the reasons women are under–represented in promotion posts in a specific South African context. A qualitative phenomenological study was used to construct the data to respond to the main research-question and sub-questions. The data was constructed from four women deputy principals in the Overberg Education District and the interviews took place at their respective schools. The study found that women in promotion posts, and especially deputy principals, experience several challenges and barriers in their work. To understand the lived experiences of these four women, eight themes have evolved from this research. These themes are: 1) Experience as deputy principal in the leadership and management of the school; 2) Leadership experience with regard to gender; 3)Experience with the principals and school management team; 4) Family and worklife; 5) Support from the principal, district office and education department; 6) disempowerment of women; 7) Support that is needed and networking. This study has shown that despite policies and legislation, women – and especially women deputy principals – are still at a disadvantage. I have come to the conclusion that the Department of Basic Education, the provincial education departments, and the education districts have failed women deputy principals with regard to development, support and empowerment, but that these women also need to take responsibility for their own growth and development.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Die navorsingstudie het die beleefde ervaringe van ‘n geselekteerde groep van vier vroue-adjunkhoofde in die Overberg Onderwysdistrik ondersoek. In Suid-Afrika en wêreldwyd beklee vroue die oorgrote meerderheid poste in die onderwysprofessie dog mans beklee die bevorderingsposte. Navorsing het bewys dat daar verskeie hindernisse is wat vroue daarvan weerhou om in bevorderingsposte aangestel te word. Hierdie hindernisse is onder andere sosio-kulturele faktore, die gemeenskap se verwagtinge en vroue se persepsies van hulleself. Hierdie studie was ‘n poging om ondersoek in te stel hoe die beleefde ervaringe van vroue-adjunkhoofde lig kan werp op die redes waarom vroue onder-verteenwoordig is in bevorderingsposte. ’n Kwalitatiewe fenomenologiese studie is gebruik om data in te samel om die hoof- en sub-navorsingsvrae te beantwoord. Die data is van vier vroue-adjunkhoofde in die Overberg Onderwysdistrik verkry en die onderhoude het by hulle onderskeie skole plaasgevind. Die studie het bevind dat vroue in bevorderingsposte, en veral vroue-adjunkhoofde verskeie uitdagings en hindernisse in hulle werk ervaar en beleef. Om die beleefde ervaringe van die vroue in die Overberg Onderwysdistrik te verstaan, het agt temas uit die ondersoek na vore gekom. Die temas is: Ervaring as adjunkhoof in die leierskap en bestuur van die skool; 2) Leierskapervaring met betrekking tot geslag; 3)Ervaring met die skoolhoof en skoolbestuurspan; 4) Gesin- en werkslewe; 5)Leierskapstyl; 6) Ondersteuning van die skoolhoof, distrik en die onderwysdepartement; 7) Ontmagtiging van vroue; 8) Ondersteuning wat benodig word en ondersteuningsnetwerke. My studie het bevind dat, ten spyte van nasionale en provinsiale beleid en wetgewing, vroue- en veral vroue-adjunkhoofde nog steeds benadeel word. Ek het tot die slotsom gekom dat die Departement van Basiese Onderwys, die provinsiale onderwysdepartemente en die onderwysdistrikte vroue-adjunkhoofde ten opsigte van ontwikkeling, ondersteuning en bemagtiging in die steek laat en dat vroue ook vir hulle eie groei en ontwikkeling verantwoordelikheid moet aanvaar