TEACHERS' PERCEPTION ON THE FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL POLICY IN GHANA: A CASE STUDY OF BONO EAST REGION

 

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

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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.