Women decry low number of female leaders in higher learning institutions

There are fewer women occupying leadership positions in Rwanda’s higher learning institutions, despite efforts to promote education for women and to place them in decision making positions,.This was disclosed during a meeting organised by the Rwanda Association of University Women (RAUW).The meeting was aimed at identifying barriers to female leadership in higher education and to develop strategies for promoting greater access for women to higher education decision making positions, including creation of global network on this issue.“There are still so few women in higher education leadership positions. We need to develop strategies and recommendations to increase their number and to inspire young girls,” said Professor Shirley Randell, one of the participants.The women also reiterated their commitment to break barriers to female leadership in higher education in Rwanda.According to statistics presented at the meeting, women rectors in public institutions are at 21 per cent, whereas in private tertiary institutions have not a single rector.Female Vice Rectors in charge of Finance constitute 31 per cent for both private and public higher learning institutions, whereas female vice rectors in charge of Academic affairs stand at 20 per cent.The statistics also showed that there were only 16.7 per cent women in administrative positions in secondary schools and 29 per cent in primary schools.Participants at the one-day workshop attributed the low numbers of women in leadership positions in education to several reasons, including country’s history with regard to women education.“It was hard for girls to study beyond secondary school. It was rare for them to join universities,” Prof. Shirley said.She added that beyond education gaps, some highly educated women prefer working in international organisations rather than join academic institutions due to meagre salaries in the education sector. TestimonyHowever, Speciose Nyiraneza, the president of RAUW, said marriage should not act as a barrier to achieving greater heights. “From my experience, no challenge can easily hamper women education. At the end of my secondary studies, I immediately got married but I managed to get into university as a wife and have never looked back,’’ Nyiraneza, currently persuing a PhD said.“Yes, I know challenges are there but it requires a committed character to overcome them.” Dr. Laetitia Nyinawamwiza, the Ag Rector of ISAE Busogo, said there is need for more advocacy for women to assume more leadership positions in education institutions. Her remarks were echoed by MP Euthalie Nyirabega, who said the government is committed to promoting women education.“We expect inspiration from the women now leading higher institutions of education in Rwanda,’’ MP Nyirabega said.Rwanda has the highest women representation in Parlaiamnet - at 56 per cent - with the country’s Constitution setting a 30 per cent fro women in leadership positions.

National

Women decry low number of female leaders in higher learning institutions