Areas of crisis at institutions of higher education – like falling student figures and low staff morale – are often spoken about. But one deep crisis that few mention is the gender crisis in the governance and management of these institutions.
The absence of women in top decision-making and influential positions and structures in higher education institutions is critical. The male domination of positions like chancellor, vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellors, and membership in bodies like the council and senate, speaks volumes about this massive gender imbalance.
Each of the 21 universities in South Africa has a chancellor, and only four of them are women. What does this tell us? Are there so few women out there who are good enough role-models and standard bearers, and who have the right expertise and experience in their own fields or areas of specialisation? How are chancellors identified, and by whom?
Another example is the position of vice-chancellor, a key person in any institution
of higher education. The vice-chancellor is responsible for the management and administration of the institution, and is very influential in the direction the institution takes. In 2000, only three out of a possible 33 institutions of higher learning had woman vice-chancellors. By the end of 2001, nine institutions will possibly have vacant vice-chancellor positions and there will also be several deputy vice-chancellor vacancies. It will be interesting to watch how gender dynamics are played out in these appointments.
Minister of Education Kader Asmal has only appointed men to be administrators at those institutions accused of mismanagement. One wonders what message the ministry is giving out about the ability of women to resolve conflict and correct wrongs at higher education institutions. Are men the best managers, administrators, strategists and decision-makers? Where are the capable women administrators and managers this country has produced?
All over the world, higher education institutions have the mission of serving society. They have to work tirelessly to promote sustainable human development, the sharing of knowledge, respect for human rights, equal rights for women and men, and the application of democratic principles within themselves and the society. It is difficult to claim that our higher education institutions are respecting this mission.
For gender discrimination to be so pronounced in higher education in South Africa, when the country boasts one of the best constitutions in the world, is totally unacceptable. Reasons should be given, and not just the usual rhetoric, for this embarrassing discrimination against women.
Could it be that women are hesitant to take up these positions, either because they lack ambition or underestimate their abilities? Or are there other reasons? There are bodies in higher education which are quite influential when it comes to policy issues, such as the South African Universities Vice-Chancellors Association and the Council on Higher Education. One may ask what their role is in dealing with the crisis of gender in higher education. Could the fact that they are predominantly male be the reason they are blind to the glaring gender imbalances?
When you consider that almost a third of the ministers in the cabinet are women and that women dominate the position of deputy minister (five men to 13 women), you have to wonder what has happened to women in academia. The higher education system is either ignorant, or simply intent on undermining the constitution, defiant of human rights, labour law, the Employment Equity Act and other legal instruments that are there to prevent discrimination based on gender.
Ngoato Takalo is currently campus principal at Vista University (East Rand) and has been appointed vice-chancellor of the University of the North West
– The Teacher/M&Media, Johannesburg, August 2001.