Cakra Wikara Indonesia (CWI), supported by the INOVASI program, has conducted two series of interrelated studies on the theme of female leadership as school principals. This is a second research of an initial study conducted by CWI which found multidimensional barriers causing the low number of women to become school/madrasah principals. These barriers include the dimensions of regulation, time, and gender norms. Barriers with a cultural dimension are the main source of obstacles for women to become school principals. This study is a follow-up study to dig deeper into the influence of gender norms on school leadership and management. This study was conducted by measuring teachers’ perceptions of the leadership of female principals in primary and secondary schools.
This research, which was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, tried to answer 3 (three) questions which included: (1) How do gender norms affect school leadership and management?; (2) How does the leadership and management of female school principals lead to an innovative improvement in the quality of education in schools?; (3) What have female school principals done to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic situation?
The research was conducted in four districts, namely Probolinggo Regency (East Java Province), Bulungan Regency (North Kalimantan Province), Bima Regency (West Nusa Tenggara Province), and West Sumba Regency (East Nusa Tenggara Province). The research methodology was carried out using a mixed methods approach that combined quantitative and qualitative approaches by taking a sample of 153 teachers (101 female and 52 male), 38 male principals (21 female and 17 male), and 14 supervisors (8 female and 6 men). -man). The main analysis in this study refers to the analysis of quantitative data based on the results of the teacher’s perception survey. The qualitative data resulting from in-depth analysis with school principals and supervisors are used as supporting analysis.