Investigation into the Significant Values of the Visual Arts in the Senior High Schools in the Ghanaian Educational System

Abstract

This study investigates the looming danger facing the Visual Arts subjects in Ghana’s education as it is underrated as compared to other subjects offered in the Senior High Schools. It examines evidence of the capabilities that art education develops in students and what it prepares them for. The study was purely descriptive and observation, as well as unstructured interviews, were the main instruments adopted to gather information from headmasters of selected Senior High Schools, parents, teachers, and students offering Visual arts as a course. The study revealed that the Visual Arts are not given the needed recognition and attention as is given to other subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), etc. by the stakeholders of education in Ghana. The study emphasized the importance of the arts and makes it clear that the visual arts increase the students’ thinking capacity to the extent that it makes them able to apply their thinking power in solving problems even in other academic areas as well as in life outside the school. The outcome of the study will diffuse the negative perceptions people have of visual arts and outlines compelling reasons to champion its development in the Senior High Schools in Ghana. Keywords: Visual arts, art education, Senior High School, creativity, programme. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-15-14 Publication date: May 31 st 2022