Abstract
This qualitative study investigated the lived experiences of five female school leaders in South Africa, China, and Brunei Darussalam. It employs narrative enquiry to explore how female leaders navigate e-Learning platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. I aimed to understand how female school leaders made an adjustment to manage schools remotely. The study also explored how the female school leaders manage to strike a balance between their professional and personal lives. Data were collected using semi-structured online and e-mail interviews. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The analysed data uncovered themes related to the experiences of the female school leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their experiences during the pandemic have helped them to find their voice and communicate their fears and experiences. The findings of the study show that the female school leaders adapted their leadership styles to respond to the crisis and employed strategies to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hoped that this study will add to the existing body of knowledge on female leadership and management that explores the narratives of female school leaders who must be given a voice to relate their experiences.
M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management)