TEACHERS'
PERCEPTION ON THE FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL POLICY IN GHANA: A CASE STUDY OF BONO
EAST REGION [PDF]
Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Augustine Owusu-Addo
DOI: http://doi.org/10.21681/IJMSIR-6013-50134-2021
Volume
04, pp. 71-79 February 2021
Abstract: The current study looked at the
perception of in-service teachers of Bono East Region in Ghana on the Free
Senior High School Policy in Ghana. The study was carried out in the Bono East
region of Ghana. The study employed a survey research design and a population
of 190 teachers who had enrolled in the Master of Education programme in
Presbyterian University College, Wisconsin International University College,
KAAF University College, and Central University College. The study collected
demographic data on the gender, age, and marital status. 161 men (82.6%) and 34
women represented 17.4%, teachers within the age bracket of 34 and above were
almost three times (74.8%) the size of those who were less than 34 years.
Teachers from 24-28 were only 6.0% of the total enrolment. Marital status was
another important demographic data collected. One hundred and sixty-five
(84.6%) of the respondents were married, whereas 30 (15.4%) were not married.
The findings indicate that teachers within the Bono East Region who are enrolled
in Master of Education programme in the above listed private universities in
Ghana; did not have adequate knowledge of the Free SHS policy before its
implementation. Second, about 95% of the respondents strongly agreed that the
Free SHS rolling was a relevant intervention by the Ghana Government. Third,
respondents believed that there were many challenges of the new educational
policy which negatively impacted its sustenance. Since it is a relevant policy,
there is the need for all stakeholders to work together to identify other
alternative ways of providing funding for the policy in order to be able to
sustain it. However, since teachers are the primary implementers of educational
policies at the classroom level, they need to be educated adequately on new
educational reforms and policies to yield the intended results. The idea of
inviting teachers to meetings on things affecting them has always remained an
afterthought. This is not different from the introduction of the Free SHS
policy. Therefore, efforts should be made to sensitize teachers and prepare
them for educational policies and programmes that directly impact academic
lives.