New report released on school leadership in Benin
A newly published report, titled Elementary School Management in Benin: A Gender-Sensitive Institutional Analysis, offers a detailed and evidence-based analysis of school leadership in Benin, with a particular focus on women’s pathways to principalship and their experiences in the role, as part of the GPE KIX WiLL-AGREE project—a multi-phase research initiative that identifies effective leadership practices while advancing women's participation in school leadership roles. The report marks a critical step in shaping the next phases of the research, which will include quantitative and qualitative surveys at the school level. Currently available in French only, the report outlines key recommendations to strengthen school leadership and enhance women's participation and success in these roles.
About the WiLL-AGREE project
The Women in learning leadership: Advancing gender-responsive education using evidence (WiLL-AGREE) project's first two phases of the research focus on an institutional analysis of the headteacher profession in the local context, alongside a secondary data analysis to examine school leaders' profiles by gender and potential links with student outcomes.
The institutional analysis draws on desk reviews, legal and policy framework analysis, as well as semi-structured interviews and focus groups with key education stakeholders at both central and decentralized levels. It explores how headteachers are trained, appointed and supported while looking into their core responsibilities and the barriers or enablers they encounter in their careers.
Additionally, the analysis of Education Management Information System (EMIS) data and primary school exam results sheds light on gender disparities among headteachers regarding working conditions, qualifications, and status. It also examines whether the gender of a headteacher influences student performance—such as promotion rates and final exam success—while accounting for other factors affecting educational outcomes.
