Senior High Schools In Ghana Research Articles

Technology Integration into the Teaching and Learning of Geography in Senior High Schools in Ghana: A TPACK Assessment

In Ghana, the integration of technology into the teaching and learning process seems to be making strides in tertiary education. However, the case is not the same in Senior High Schools. This study, therefore, sought to assess Senior High School Geography teachers' knowledge in integrating technology into their classroom adapting the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) model as a framework for analysis. The study adopted the descriptive survey design to provide a comprehensive analysis of the research problem. Through a survey, a total of 113 geography teachers participated in the study, responding to a TPACK survey questionnaire. The data were analysed using mean and standard deviation. The findings of the study showed that teachers possessed a high level of content and pedagogical knowledge in geography. The analysis, however, showed that teachers were not as confident as they were in content and pedagogy compared to technological knowledge and its subsequent integration into the teaching and learning of geography. It was, therefore, recommended among others that courses at the higher education level should integrate Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into teaching and learning to help student-teachers appreciate the place of specific technologies, hardware and software in the teaching and learning of their respective disciplines.

Biology Education in Perspective: An Inquiry into Ghanaian Senior High School Students’ Attitude Towards Biology Practical Lessons

This study aimed at finding out the attitude of students towards Biology practical lessons in selected Senior High Schools in Ghana. The study adopted the descriptive sample design, involving both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The population of the study comprised 408 students and 24 teachers. The students and teachers were chosen at random from a table of random numbers respectively. Data was collected using informal observation, questionnaire and documents. The questionnaire was made up of both open and close-ended questions. The Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was the software that was used in processing the quantitative data. The findings of the study revealed that 5% of students from well-endowed schools, as against 40.5% of those from less-endowed schools, indicated that they have poor attitudes towards Biology practical lessons and this was confirmed by their teachers. It was also shown that practical lessons in Biology, in both well-endowed and less-endowed Senior High Schools, were greatly impeded by lack of proper laboratory, lack of laboratory assistants/technicians and inadequacy of practical equipment and materials for practical work. Based on the findings of the study, the government, Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and other stakeholders should help in providing the needed resources such as well-equipped laboratories and materials among others to facilitate the teaching and learning of Biology practical in the schools.

Digitalizing the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics at the Senior High Schools in Ghana; the Case of Flipped Classroom Approach

Introduction: The 21st century comes with its own challenges so far as the teaching and learning of mathematics is concern. This is because most of the senior students have access to digital devices that allow them to navigate the social media channels like the WhatsApp, Twiter, instagram, SnapChat, Facebook, TikTok and the likes. Unfortunately these handles are loaded with various forms of videos and other stuffs that these innocent young ones turned to love to follow more than their studies, thereby affecting their academic achievements.
 Purpose: The motive of this study was to enhance students’ conceptual understanding in circle theorems using the flipped classroom approach.
 Methodology: A sample of Fifty (50) Remedial students from the Bekwai Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region of Ghana was selected by means of purposive sampling method for the study. With the use of quasi- experimental design, a pretest post test method was use to gather the data on the students to ascertain the impact of the interventional design. In addition to the tests, a questionnaire was also used to find out how students feel about the flipped classroom pedagogy in teaching and learning.
 Findings: The analysis of the questionnaire came out that students enjoyed the lessons and their performance appreciated as a result. A statistical significant improvement in the students’ performance made the researcher reject the null hypothesis and concluded that flipped classroom approach impacted positively on students’ performance.
 Recommendations: It was therefore recommended that the flipped classroom should be adopted as one of the pedagogical strategies in teaching mathematics at the Senior High school.

Influence of School Counsellor’s Demographic on the Provision of Guidance Services in Senior High Schools in Ghana

This study investigates how school counsellor’s demographics influence the provision of guidance services in senior high schools in Ghana. The study was underpinned by a positivist philosophical viewpoint where a quantitative approach and the descriptive survey was used to assess how school counsellor’s demographics influence their provision of guidance services. A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents. A total of a hundred and thirty-six (136) respondents was selected on a purposive base. The study found out that there was a significant difference between the age, gender, experience and academic qualification of counsellors have an influence in the provision of guidance services in SHSs in Ghana. The study also revealed that orientation, information and counselling services were adequately performed in SHSs, but consultation and follow-up were the least provided services. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education should ensure that the employment criteria for school counsellors should be based mostly on academic qualification and experience. Finally, the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service should organise seminars for school counsellors frequently to have rudimentary knowledge and skills to help them in practice.

Classroom Assessment Literacy Levels of Mathematics Teachers in Ghanaian Senior High Schools

The mathematics teacher’s ability to assess and integrate assessment data into instructions is a function of their assessment literacy. While the teacher’s assessment literacy level is a determinant of quality of mathematics education delivery, research in the domain is limited. The study employed a descriptive survey design to explore perceived levels of assessment literacy of mathematics teachers in implementing classroom assessment within the school based assessment framework. A 35-item classroom assessment inventory was adopted, modified and administered to a purposive sample of 96 mathematics teachers from eleven Senior High Schools in Ghana. Seven other items were included to further collect data on their self-efficacy beliefs about their assessment literacy. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann Whitney U test and correlation analysis. The result shows that majority of the participants did not attain the required assessment literacy standards for quality assessment in mathematics classroom. Moreover, there was a mismatch between participants’ assessment literacy and their self-efficacy beliefs in assessment in mathematics education even when gender and teacher experience were controlled. The study recommends that institutions training mathematics teachers or providing professional development should accentuate assessment literacy development to ensure standard assessment practices and quality instruction in mathematics at senior high schools. The assessment inventory used in this study could be adapted for use in college of education in Ghana to measure mathematics teachers’ literacies in assessing students.

Washback Effect of High-Stakes English Language Tests on the Learning Behaviours of Ghanaian ESL Learners

The term washback or backwash is used in Applied Linguistics to refer to the impact of second/foreign language testing on learning behaviours, teaching practices, and curriculum design. The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) English language tests administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) are high-stakes tests which have very important consequences for the junior and senior high school leavers. The English language syllabus for both junior high school and senior high school levels has listening , reading , writing , and speaking components. Unfortunately, the BECE and WASSCE English language tests do not assess students on all the language skills. Although the WASSCE English language test has oral English component (which was introduced in 1999), it assesses candidates on listening comprehension only. Since teachers and students are likely to concentrate on what is going to be assessed, there may be negative washback effect on teaching and learning of English language in junior and senior high schools in Ghana. This paper reports on the washback effect of high-stakes English language tests on the learning behaviours of Ghanaian ESL learners. A total of 344 students from 3 junior high and 5 senior high schools were purposively sampled for the study. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of data revealed that the BECE/WASSCE influenced how students learnt English, and that they wanted their teachers to concentrate on language areas that would only make them perform well in the high-stakes tests. This confirms the Alderson and Wall’s washback hypotheses that a test will influence what and how learners learn. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-30-10 Publication date: October 31 st 2021

Effect of Practical Work on Physics Learning Effectiveness: A Case of a Senior High School in Ghana

This study investigated the effect of practical work on students’ academic achievement, acquisition of scientific process, skills and attitudes towards the study of selected topics in electricity. Fifty (50) Form Two Physics students from a Senior High Technical School in the Kwaebibirem Municipal of the Eastern Region of Ghana participated in the study. Instruments used to collect data included a student learning evaluation form, questionnaire and pre-and-post-intervention tests. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Microsoft Excel 2010 Computer Software. The findings indicated that the students’ academic performance were enhanced, they acquired important scientific process skills needed for science practical work and developed positive attitudes towards science practical work. The study recommended that Physics teachers should adopt practical work as a teaching technique and as well be encouraged to teach concepts alongside with practical activities.

Using Quality Teaching and Learning Resources for Effective Integrated Science Education among Senior High Schools in Ghana

The study examined the use of quality teaching and learning resources and how these affect the teaching and learning of Integrated Science. A total of 172 randomly selected second year Senior High School (SHS) students and 25 Integrated Science teachers purposively sampled served as the subjects for the study within six districts in the Central Region of Ghana. Questionnaires were used to collect the students’ and teachers' needed data. This study's key findings revealed a lack of teaching and learning materials and the stereotyped nature of Integrated Science teachers' methods of teaching. It was noted that access, selection and usage of good and quality teaching and learning materials and methods influenced learning outcomes of students in SHS Integrated Science. However, it was observed that both government and private school teachers used similar teaching methods in delivering the Integrated Science content. It was concluded that for successful teaching and learning of Integrated Science, the challenges should be addressed by SHS education stakeholders. As a result, the paper recommended possible solutions that would ameliorate the challenges hindering the teaching and learning of Integrated Science.

PREDICTORS OF SCHOOL CHOICE: THE CASE OF PARENTS IN CAPE COAST, GHANA

<div>We identified the pertinent factors affecting parents’ choice of a particular senior high school (SHS) in Ghana, focusing on parents with at least one child in a SHS in Ghana and are residents of Cape Coast. The approach and design used were quantitative and descriptive survey design respectively. A sample of 637 of the parents, made up of 349 women and 288 men, was used. The parents were selected using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. A questionnaire, with a reliability coefficient ranging from 0.735 – 0.829, was the instrument used to collect the data. Out of the 637 parents sampled, we were able to retrieve 588 completed questionnaires, representing 92.3 percent response rate. The data were analysed using cross tabulation and linear multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that parents preferred public boarding SHS which is single-sex education. Also, parents preferred schools with excellent academic record, quality instruction, and positive school values. Similarly, family/parental related factors such as family moral and religious values, and parents’ income and education levels, and also social related factors such as school popularity and brand, peer influence, and social network predict significantly and positively parents’ choice of a particular SHS. We conclude that school, family and social related factors are able to influence parents’ school choice. It is recommended to heads of SHSs to be attentive to the various institutional factors and create schools that address the needs of the parents in their communities in order to attract and retain students.</div><div> </div><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0889/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP PRACTICES OF HEADS OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN GHANA

A non-experimental survey was conducted to investigate the instructional leadership practices of senior high school heads in Ghana. Data were collected using a closed-ended Likert type items from a simple randomly selected sample of a defined population of school heads of senior high schools in Ghana. Data collected were analysed using rank-ordered means and independent samples test of differences of means. The study findings revealed that the school heads frequently adopt major key practices of instructional leadership. However, the school heads most frequently adopt the practice of communicating the school’s goals. The study further revealed that differences exist the frequency at which heads of high performing schools and those of non-high performing schools adopt instructional leadership dimensions of defining the school’s goals and promoting a positive school learning climate.

Perceived Influence of Large Class Size and Psychological Classroom Environment on Students’ Academic Performance in Senior High Schools in Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

This study investigated how large class size and the psychological class environment influenced students’ academic performance. Survey design was employed. Three hundred and twenty students were purposively selected from ten senior high schools in Kumasi Metropolis. Questionnaire was used to obtain data from the respondents with a reliability coefficient of 0.7. The study revealed that large class size influenced students’ academic performance and also limits their learning opportunities. It also came up that psychological class environment have a great influence on students’ academic performance. Furthermore, the study showed that students perform well in smaller class size and good psychological classroom environment. The study, therefore, recommends that small class size and good psychological class environment are better for good performance. Teachers and head teachers should make sure they conform to the required teacher to student ratio of 1:40 recommended by the Ghana Education Service. Teachers should create an enabling environment for students to participate in classroom activities. Government should, therefore, employ more teachers and build more classrooms to solve the problem of large class size in the senior high schools in Ghana.

Emotional Intelligence of Headteachers in the Senior High Schools in Ghana: A Conundrum?

The study employed the explanatory sequential mixed methods design where quantitative and qualitative data sets were collected to address the research problem. Two hundred and sixty-two (262) headteachers were sampled randomly from the Central and Greater Accra regions of Ghana for the quantitative phase of the study whilst eight (8) headteachers were subsequently sampled purposively for the qualitative phase of the study. The quantitative data were analyzed using means and standards deviations whilst the qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The study found that the emotional intelligence of the headteachers was low. The study further established that the academic qualification of the headteachers was not a significant predictor of their Emotional Intelligence (EI). However, the gender and age of the headteachers predicted their EI significantly. It was concluded the EI level of the headteachers may affect how they lead and manage their respective schools. It is recommended that periodic pragmatic and purposeful in-service and workshops in EI should be provided for headteachers in the study area by the Metro Directorate of Education. Furthermore, the Circuit Supervisors, Metro Directors and the Ghana Education Service should liaise with the Ghana Psychological Council to provide psychological support for the headteachers in the Senior High Schools within the study area. Finally, the Ministry of Education through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission should ensure that teacher education programmes that are offered in the institutions of higher learning in Ghana have contents in the area of emotional intelligence and educational leadership to equip headteacher in the management of their schools.

Latent structure of psychotic-like experiences in adolescents: Evidence from a multi-method taxometric study of a school-based sample in Ghana

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are subclinical psychotic symptoms that occur outside the context of sleep or are unrelated to drug use. PLEs of varying severity are reportedly very common in adolescence. However, there are concerns about whether the structure of PLEs among adolescents is latently dimensional or categorical (“taxonic”). The current study investigates the latent structure of PLEs in 1,886 adolescents recruited from senior high schools in Ghana. Four multivariate taxometric procedures (MAMBAC, MAXEIG, l-Mode and MAXSLOPE) were applied to analyze the data. Across the taxometric procedures, there was evidence that a dimensional structure underpins positive PLEs, negative PLEs and a combination of positive and negative PLEs. The findings suggest that PLEs are distributed in the adolescent population at differing degrees/severity and that evidence of discontinuity between milder and more severe PLEs is non-existent. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating a dimensional assessment of PLEs into the existing categorical approach so that differences between people can been seen as quantitative variations along the PLEs continuum.

Career Opportunity for Ghanaian Youth: An Evaluation of Jewellery Subject under Visual Art Programme in Senior High Schools in Ghana

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the Jewellery subject in Senior High Schools in Ghana to ascertain
 the career opportunity in jewellery for Ghanaian youth. The study adopted the Mixed Methods Research approach with descriptive and document analysis as the research method used. The findings of the study show that jewellery students are not able to practise as jewellers after their studies, because the content of the jewellery subjects and its associated exercises does not correspond to the skills one is required to become a jeweller. Coupled with the fact that the teachers who teach the jewellery are mostly not professional jewellers, which therefore limit the kind of practical jewellery that they can teach the students. Although the motivating factor for introducing jewellery is good, however, the rhetorics of the government that she wants students to acquire skills in jewellery making does not support the reality on the ground.

Young People's Perceptions towards Librarians: An Exploratory Study of Students of Five Senior High Schools in Ghana

Young People's Perceptions towards Librarians: An Exploratory Study of Students of Five Senior High Schools in Ghana

Mental health difficulties, coping mechanisms and support systems among school-going adolescents in Ghana: A mixed-methods study.

BackgroundAlthough adolescents are highly vulnerable to mental health challenges, they receive little attention, especially in developing countries. We investigated the mental health difficulties (MHDs) faced by adolescent students in four senior high schools in Ghana, their coping strategies and support systems.MethodsIn this convergent mixed-methods study, quantitative data was obtained using validated strengths and difficulties questionnaire to assess the mental health of 405 adolescents. Qualitative data was collected through in-depth interview with 18 teachers and seven focused group discussions with 35 students. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for MHDs were estimated through ordinal logistic regression in Stata 14.2. Qualitative data was analyzed inductively and deductively using ATLAS.ti 7.1.ResultsOver half (58.5%) experienced peer (20.5%), emotional (16.3%), conduct (13.3%) and hyperactivity (3.0%) problems, whereas 5.4% exhibited prosocial behaviours. MHDs were associated with females (OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.47–3.50), bullying (OR = 1.72, CI: 1.07–2.75), domestic violence (OR = 1.87, CI: 1.10–3.17), substance abuse (OR = 8.14, CI: 1.41–46.8), academic pressure (OR = 2.40, CI: 1.30–4.42) and self-perceived poor school performance (OR = 7.36 CI: 2.83–19.16). Qualitatively, we identified financial challenges, spiritual influences, intimate relationships, bullying, and domestic violence as the main themes attributed to MHDs. Coping strategies included isolation, substance use and spiritual help. The main school-based support system was the guidance and counselling unit, but there were complaints of it been ineffective due to trust and confidentially issues, and non-engagement of qualified counsellors.ConclusionsAs many triggers of MHDs emanate in schools, we need mental health-friendly school environments where trained psychotherapists head counselling centres. We propose incorporating mental health education into school curricula and generating surveillance data on adolescent’s mental health.

Career Choices of Students in Senior High Schools in Ghana

Deciding on the educational path to pursue to arrive at one’s preferred career destination is important. Based on a survey that adapted Germeijs and Verschueren’s (2006) Study Choice Task Inventory (SCTI) to gather relevant data from 1,006 senior high school student respondents, this research assesses the decisional process of how senior high school students choose programmes of study in higher institutions and explores the career guidance and counselling services senior high schools in Ghana provide for their students. Our findings showed that high school students in Ghana were well-oriented about the study choice task and quite decided about the programmes of study to pursue in higher education. The study also found that senior high schools lack the career guidance and counselling infrastructure needed to support students in their efforts to make informed educational career decisions. Also, to a large extent, students relied on themselves for information as they consider the options available in their choices of programmes to study in higher education. Keywords: Career choice, high school students, Ghana, guidance and counselling, decisional tasks DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-10-10 Publication date: April 30 th 2021

Consumption of carbonated soft drinks among Ghanaian adolescents: associations with socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress.

Carbonated soft drinks consumption is associated with weight gain and other chronic diseases. To examine whether socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress are associated with carbonated soft drink consumption among adolescents in selected senior high schools in Ghana. Data were obtained from the 2012 Ghana Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Participants consisted of 1756 school-going adolescents sampled using a two-stage cluster sampling method. Binomial logistic regression was used to determine whether socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress were associated with consumption of soft drinks. The prevalence of carbonated soft drinks consumption was 34.9%. Males (odds ratio (OR) = 0.73 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.59-0.92); p = 0.007), and participants with high socio-economic status (OR = 0.76 (95% CI 0.48-0.97); p = 0.033) had smaller odds for consumption of soft drinks. Also, adolescents in Senior High School (SHS) 3 (OR = 0.72 (95% CI 0.53-0.97); p = 0.034) and SHS 4 (OR = 0.63 (95% CI 0.43-0.91); p = 0.014) had smaller odds for soft drinks intake compared to those in SHS 1. Health risk factors associated with greater odds of high soft drink consumption were tobacco use (OR = 1.68, (95% CI 1.07-2.65); p = 0.025), fast food consumption (OR = 1.88, (95% CI 1.47-2.41); p = 0.011) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.43, (95% CI 1.02-1.99); p = 0.039). Consuming adequate fruit (OR = 0.19 (95% CI 0.15-0.24); p = 0.000) and adequate vegetable (OR = 0.55 (95% CI 0.34-0.87); p = 0.011) were associated with lower odds for soft drink consumption. Adolescents who reported feeling anxious had smaller odds for soft drink intake (OR = 0.65, (95% CI 0.47-0.91); p = 0.011). The findings from this study show that socio-demographic characteristics, health risk factors and psychological distress are associated with the soft drink consumption among adolescents in Ghana. Interventions aimed at reducing soft drink consumption and other health risk factors are needed.

Young People's Perceptions towards Librarians: An Exploratory Study of Students of Five Senior High Schools in Ghana

Young People's Perceptions towards Librarians: An Exploratory Study of Students of Five Senior High Schools in Ghana

Students’ Satisfaction with Accounting Teachers’ Lesson Delivery, the Role of Perceived Quality of Lesson Delivery in Ghanaian Senior High Schools

To highlight the importance of the quality of lesson delivery for students’ satisfaction with the teaching and learning process in the classroom, this study examines the quality factors of accounting teachers lesson delivery that may influence students’ satisfaction with accounting teachers’ lesson delivery in Senior High Schools in Ghana. Survey questionnaire, a modified version of SERQUAL model, was used in collecting data for this study. In all, a sample of 504 students from 20 public Senior High Schools in Kumasi metropolis in the Ashanti region of Ghana participated in the survey. The findings of this paper suggest that accounting students in Ghanaian Senior High Schools are generally not satisfied with the quality of lesson delivery of their financial accounting teachers. In addition, classroom setting (environment, facilities and materials) and teachers’ teaching behavior (responsive to students’ needs, reliability, competency, and empathy) do not meet Senior High School accounting students’ expectations. It is evident from the results that teachers’ performance in lesson delivery, as perceived by students, influence students’ satisfaction with lesson delivery in the classroom. Perceived low performance on the service quality dimensions of accounting teachers’ lesson delivery seems more susceptible to low satisfaction with teachers’ lesson delivery. These findings imply that, quality of accounting teachers’ lesson delivery, especially, along the dimensions of tangibility, responsiveness, reliability, assurance and empathy in their lesson delivery requires improvement. There is the need for teachers and school managers to identify what students really expect from teachers in their lesson delivery so that teachers can make the necessary changes to improve lesson delivery quality and students’ satisfaction in the classroom.