Women are interested in leadership roles but they were not confident enough to apply – Dr Jokhan

The Permanent Secretary for Education, Doctor Anjeela Jokhan says according to a online survey conducted through their Learning and Development Unit in October last year, women are interested in leadership roles but they were not confident enough to apply for it.

2,581 teachers took part in the survey.

While speaking at the 93rd TISI Sangam Convention in Lautoka, Jokhan says women account for 69% of the teaching workforce in schools but only 27% heads of schools are women.

She says the purpose of the survey was to find out why women did not apply for leadership posts and what they could do to change that.

Jokhan says 48% of the assistant principals, vice principals, head teachers and HODs were women but it was the heads of schools that showed the big discrepancy.

She says when asked, majority of the women said that they are not qualified enough, many saw it as being a man’s job and a number of women said it would conflict with their roles in their families.

The Permanent Secretary says one thing that they found striking in the survey was the response from the younger women saying they were getting support from their spouses who were helping out with work.

She says to large extent it then puts the onus on women to take advantage of this support and go for their career aspirations.

Jokhan also says cultural values are important for a child to grow with the appreciation of one’s culture, religion and respect and it brings about discipline in a child.

She adds as parents it is their responsibility to introduce our children to these from a very early age.