DefinePK

Abstract

While highlighting not only the challenges that female educational leaders encounter in maintaining their leading and managerial positions in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (henceforth, KP), Pakistan, this study identifies the stratagems that they adopt while handling those challenges. Using qualitative case study design, the data from nine participant female educational leaders (elementary education managers) at three districts of KP were collected via semi-structured interviews, field notes, and observations. Findings of the study exhibit that female educational managers faced various challenges in the workplace that lead to limiting their effectiveness and efficiency in their administrative roles. In order to cope with the challenges, the participant female educational leaders identified professional development courses, mentoring, family support, collaboration, and understanding of culture as some of the effective strategies. This study thus recommends that for empowering female educational leaders to deal with challenges effectively, a degree in educational management and leadership as a prerequisite for educational managers, an appropriate method of induction for new leaders, and few policy level changes are desirable.