Fiji’s Permanent Secretary of Education Dr Anjeela Jokhan emphasised the importance of education and sisterhood in efforts to elevate more women to positions of leadership.
Speaking during the TISI Maathar Sangam Cultural event at Lautoka’s Churchill Park last night, Dr Anjeela Jokhan highlighted findings from a regional report that underlined the extent of disparity between male and female leadership, which a follow-up survey carried out in Fiji last year found that locally, the gap also stems in part from women lacking the confidence to apply for leadership roles.
A 2021 report on women in business leadership in the Pacific by the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative found that in the Pacific, on average, women comprise 13% of CEOs and 34% of chief financial officers and/or chief operating officers.
A survey conducted by the Ministry of Education in October the same year, found that women accounted for 69 per cent of the teaching workforce yet only 27 per cent are in leadership positions as heads of schools.
“When we asked them why majority of them said they are not qualified enough, did not have the experience (which is odd), many saw it as being a man’s job (stereotyping), and numerous women said it would conflict with their roles in their families,” Dr Jokhan said.
“Yes, there are certain things expected of us women, we have to make more sacrifices than men generally but if you want the job, you need to be focused and be willing to put that extra work.”
Education is one such means, Dr Jokhan says that it eliminates disparities and inequalities, and helps recover women’s status within and outside the family grouping.
“It is the key factor for the development, empowerment, prosperity and welfare of women.”
Dr Jokhan said crucial to men’s success as well as is a strong brotherhood, which is often not the case for women.
“They will support each other, without even thinking. But, it is not often like that with us for a number of reasons. Perhaps we don’t get that much time to hang out and support each other. Perhaps we are all so busy doing so many things we don’t even think so much about the sisterhood concept. But there is strength in this. We need to think about how we can support each other, [and] how we can support our daughters and granddaughters.
“The support structure is very important, not just from the family but from our workmates and friends as well.”
Women she says can help empower others, particularly young girls by organising activities that enrich them in cultural values, as well as build their confidence, providing them a much stronger footing in life.
