As South Africa commemorates Women’s Day on 9 August, I decided to scope for interests in my back yard: the importance of leadership development among our women principals. When schools first closed due to COVID-19, I attempted home schooling with my daughter.

I knew it wasn’t for me. I could not imagine what teachers go through on a daily basis, coping with the pressures of lesson preparation while ensuring children learn. I developed a deeper appreciation for principals and teachers. I also wondered what it really took to have schools function in a pandemic with little to no resources.