Work-home conflict of female administrators in basic schools in the Accra metropolis

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to find out the problems women administrators face as they perform work-home roles. The study investigated the nature of the conflict and gender roles that conflict with their participation in educational administration. The study also tried to identify the support the female administrators get from their family members as they perform their dual responsibilities and how to manage work-home conflict. The study employed the descriptive survey design. The purposive and random sampling techniques were used to draw a sample size of 125 from the population of 400. The sample size was made up of female heads of public and private basic schools in the Accra Metropolis. The main instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire which had 43 items, made up of both open-ended and closed-ended items. The return rate achieved in the distribution and collection of the questionnaire was 96%. The findings of the study revealed that women work after official hours to get work done. They confirmed that delegation of some aspect of their jobs to subordinate helps to promote efficiency. The study further revealed that although women get support from family members in the performance of their duties in the home, they sometimes leave their official work to attend to family problems and vice versa, hence the difficulty to combine their roles. On the other hand the study revealed that women administrators are able to manage work-home conflict. Recommendations made include the training of women in administrative positions on how to manage role conflict efficiently and effectively.