Community-Based Participatory Research in Education: Empowering Women School Leaders in KwaZulu-Natal
Ntombikayise Nkosi 
& Mncedisi Christian Maphalala
Issue: Vol.6 No.8 Article 9 pp. 1404 – 1416
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2025689 | Published online 11th July, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Community-based participatory research (CBPR) has emerged as a robust methodology to foster collaboration and empowerment in educational contexts. This paper explores the application of CBPR in the context of education, focusing specifically on its role in empowering women school leaders in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Through a qualitative research approach, this study was conducted in close collaboration with women school leaders and with community stakeholders and schools’ active and integral participation. The findings of this study underscore the importance of community-based participatory approaches in empowering women school leaders and advancing gender equity in educational leadership in KwaZulu-Natal. The key findings highlight the following themes: gendered power dynamics in educational leadership, the impact of CBPR on women’s empowerment, identification of empowerment strategies, collective action and community support, and the potential for transformative change. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and community stakeholders, serving as a guide for promoting inclusive and equitable educational practices.
Keywords: Community-based participatory research, women school leader, feminist theory, critical pedagogy, patriarchy
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Dr. Ntombikayise Nkosi is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of South Africa (College of Education) within the Department of Educational Foundations. She holds a D.Ed in Social Justice in Education from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Previously, she served as Deputy Chief Education Specialist in the Information Systems & Strategic Sub-Directorate at the Gauteng Department of Education. Her career also includes roles at Rosebank College as Head of Academics (Durban campus) and various leadership positions in the KZN Department of Education, including teacher, head of department, deputy principal, and principal of Waterloo Primary School. Dr. Nkosi is a grant recipient under the Women in Research (WiR) programme and leads the Women in Leadership and Management (WiLM) project in KwaZulu-Natal. She has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences and has authored several book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals. Currently, she supervises multiple master’s and doctoral students. Her research focuses on gender issues in education and community-based participatory research (CBPR). A strong advocate for gender equality, Dr. Nkosi actively challenges stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding women in leadership. She collaborates with communities to provide insights on gender issues and to develop innovative solutions. Her inspiring journey reflects resilience, determination, and the courage to overcome the often-unseen challenges faced by women.
Prof. Mncedisi Maphalala is a Full Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies at Unisa (College of Education). He is a former Director of the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) at the Durban University of Technology, and a former Dean in the Faculty of Education at the University of Zululand. He holds a D.Ed in curriculum studies from the University of Zululand. His career in Higher Education spans over 19 years as a Research Professor (North-West University), Professor at the University of Zululand and UNISA, and Institutional researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand. He has also previously worked for the KZN Department of Education (as a teacher, HOD, and Deputy Principal); between May and August 2015, he was a Visiting Scholar at the University of North Dakota (USA). Prof Maphalala is an established researcher who holds an NRF C2 rating. He has edited books and special journal issues and published a number of book chapters and research articles in peer-reviewed journals. Prof Maphalala has presented research papers at various local and international conferences. As a postgraduate supervisor and mentor, Prof Maphalala has supervised several master’s and doctoral candidates to completion. He has conducted a number of large-scale commissioned research projects by external organisations such as the South African Institute of Distance Education (SAIDE), Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), and Council on Higher Education (CHE). He has served on the Umalusi Research Forum, a subcommittee of the Umalusi Council, for a four-year term. His research interests are teacher education, self-directed learning, blended learning, Scholarship of Teaching & Learning, and Curriculum studies.
Nkosi, Ntombikayise, and Mncedisi Christian Maphalala . “Community-Based Participatory Research in Education: Empowering Women School Leaders in KwaZulu-Natal,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no.8 (2025): 1404 – 1416. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2025689
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
