Advancing Women into Leadership Positions in South African Educational Institutions: The Role of Education and Mentorship
Thizwilondi J. Mudau 
& Matodzi G Sikhwari
Issue: Vol.6 No. 4 April 2025 Article 5 pp.189-202
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2025645 | Published online 11th April, 2025.
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This article examines the role of education in advancing women into leadership positions, addressing persistent gender disparities in decision-making roles. Despite global efforts to promote gender equality, women remain underrepresented in leadership, limiting diversity and innovation across sectors. Grounded in Feminist Theory, the article explored how education equips women with the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed for leadership success. Using a qualitative case study design, data was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 20 female leaders, educators, and policymakers from South African institutions of higher learning, selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis revealed that access to education and mentorship programmes significantly enhance women’s leadership abilities, while societal norms and limited institutional support remain barriers. Trustworthiness was ensured through member checking, peer review, and triangulation, with ethical considerations including informed consent and confidentiality. The article recommends integrating leadership training into educational curricula and fostering partnerships between institutions and organizations to support women’s professional growth. This research underscores education as a key driver of gender equality and inclusive leadership development. The study aims to contribute to a better understanding of how educational systems can be reformed to support gender equality in educational development.
Keywords: Women’s leadership, Gender equality, Education and leadership, Mentorship programmes, Feminism.
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Dr. Thizwilondi Josephine Mudau is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Youth Studies, School of Human and Social Sciences, University of Venda, South Africa.
Dr. Matodzi G. Sikhwari is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Early Childhood Education at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, South Africa. He is a qualified Foundation Phase teacher and holds an M.A., M.Ed., and PhD from Stellenbosch University. His research interests include Educational Linguistics, Gender and Sexuality, and Home Language Teaching. Dr. Sikhwari specializes in Linguistics and Education Policy Studies.
Mudau, Thizwilondi J., and Matodzi G. Sikhwari. “Advancing Women into Leadership Positions in South African Educational Institutions: The Role of Education and Mentorship.” Journal of Education and Learning Technology 6, no.4 (2025): 189-202. https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2025645
© 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/).
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