Evidence-Based Study into the Coping Demands of Headmistresses in Selected Senior High Schools in the Kumasi Metropolis: A Mixed Method Study

Management of academic institutions is a daunting task since humans are placed at the center of all activities carried out in that space. Despite the continuous supply of human and material resources by various governments to supervise, plan, strategize, and implement structures for an expected result, there still exist loopholes. This study uses the mixed method technique to examine the coping demands of headmistresses in selected senior high schools in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. Using the cross-sectional study design with purposive sampling, this study was conducted on 14 female headmistresses from 14 senior high schools with the use of interview-based structured questionnaires with one-on-one interviews with headmistresses. Study results reveal that headmistresses’ ambition and drive on their pathways to leadership, study results indicate that 57% of respondents agree is it through academic qualifications, followed by progressive promotion (36%) and finally intrinsic motivation (7%). On headmistresses coping mechanisms in their world of work, 50% reveal they ignore any form of negativity, followed by gender biases (48%) and personal reflection (2%). Again, study results revealed that headmistresses treat their critics as though they do not exist in dealing with negativity. This study recommends that upcoming research should consider these coping demands of female headmistresses relative to the demands of managing academic institutions zand state policies on education.