Biography of Dr. Farhana Kajee

About Dr. Farhana Kajee:

Dr. Farhana Kajee is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education Policy at Stellenbosch University, specialising in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy. Prior to her appointment at Stellenbosch University, she spent over a decade at Rhodes University, where her work centred on building leadership capacity among diverse educational stakeholders, including school leaders, educators, and learners. During this period, she successfully supervised 18 Master’s students, 17 of whom were from rural contexts, thereby contributing meaningfully to the generation of knowledge in Africa for Africa.

Her current research focuses on leadership practices that advance social justice, with particular attention to rural and under-resourced school environments. She is currently investigating the Advanced Diploma in School Leadership and Management (ADSLM), a national programme initiated by the Department of Basic Education to support the professional development of school leaders across South Africa. Her work explores how the ADSLM cultivates socially just leadership and examines the experiences of women in leadership roles within this context.

Dr. Kajee’s scholarship is grounded in frameworks such as Transformative Leadership and Social Justice Leadership as Praxis, reflecting her commitment to ethical, relational, and contextually responsive leadership. She is deeply engaged in mentorship, democratic participation, and leadership practices that centre care, equity, and the amplification of community voices.