Female Teachers’ Challenges in the Teaching of Civil Technology in Technical High Schools

This article is linked to a completed MEd study by the first author. The study explored the challenges faced by female teachers in teaching the subject of Civil Technology in technical high schools. A phenomenological, qualitative design was used to explore and understand gender issues related to the teaching of Civil Technology, using structured interviews and participant observation in the classrooms. Eight purposively selected male and female teachers participated in the study. The thematic analysis of data yielded findings which revealed that female teachers can teach Civil Technology despite being perceived as weak. The research showed that the training offered by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) boosts the confidence of female teachers in the subject. However, a lack of tools and machines disadvantages (female) teachers from proving their competence to teach the subject. It appears that some male teachers do not trust their female counterparts, and that women’s empowerment and motivation would contribute to increasing the number of female teachers and learners in the subject. Female teachers had the challenge of dealing with certain tasks and lifting heavy materials. However, teachers treated male and female learners equally. The study contributes to the existing literature on the gender challenges affecting female teachers in the field of teaching Civil Technology.