Abstract:
The study aimed to examine the causes of female underrepresentation in headship positions in selected secondary schools of Chitipa and Karonga districts of the Northern Education Division (NED). It's main purpose was to identify the criteria used to appoint headteachers in Malawian secondary schools. It also determined the effectiveness and lastly examined the challenges following the current criteria of appointing headteachers in Malawi. The study was guided by Critical Mass Theory. It used the constructivism paradigm which looks at reality as subjective. It also used the Mixed method approach though it was more qualitative.