University of Education, Winneba Online Journal System
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BLOGGING DISASTERS: COVERAGE OF APIATE CHEMICAL EXPLOSION ON SELECTED BLOGS IN GHANA
Get PDFThe emergence of the internet has led to the proliferation of blogs which provide news-worthy information to people. While scholars have studied blogs globally, very little is known about their coverage of disasters, especially in the Ghanaian context. This study, therefore, investigated how the January 20, 2022, Apiate chemical explosion in the Western Region of Ghana was covered on two Ghanaian blogs. Thirty-nine purposively sampled news stories on the selected blogs are content-analysed to examine the attention given to the stories on the explosion and the frames used to represent them on the blogs. The data collected were thematically analysed through the lens of the agenda-setting theory and the media framing theory. The study's findings revealed that much salience was not placed on stories about the explosion by way of frequency. However, when stories about the explosion appeared on the blogs, salience-directing cues such as images, videos and hyperlinks were attached to signify prominence to the readers. Furthermore, whilst frames of tragedy, hopeless situations and response to action were projected in the stories, the two blogs did not emphasise the responsibility frame, which would have held individuals/companies whose negligence led to the disaster accountable for their actions. Since blogs have become critical news sources for Ghanaians and can set the agenda for the public and policymakers, bloggers need to be circumspect about the nature of coverage given to social issues such as disasters
INDISCIPLINE IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN GHANA
Get PDFThe study investigated causes and influence of indiscipline in secondary schools in Ghana. A multi-site case study from a population of students, teachers, headmasters, headmistresses, assistance heads, senior housemasters and mistresses and parents was adopted. A sample size of 56 participants, comprising 10 school prefects, 10 non prefects, 5 house staff and 15 parents were engaged in a focus group discussion. In addition, 8 headmaster/mistresses, and 8 senior housemasters/ mistresses were interviewed. The data analysis method used was thematic. The study which is in its first phase, was conducted in Southern Ghana. The study revealed three key causes of school indiscipline, namely, attitude of parents over protecting their wards even when school rules were flouted, the interpretation the media ascribed to indiscipline and the removal of corporal punishment from disciplinary actions. The study also revealed that indiscipline lowered the authorities of school leaders and teachers and led to a declined in students’ academic performance. The study therefore recommended an alternative disciplinary regime which should include sanctions to be collectively agreed upon by student unions, civil society organizations, law enforcement officers, educational institutions, parents and religious bodies
IMPACT OF PUBLIC SECTOR COMPENSATION REFORMS ON TEACHER ATTRITION IN GHANA
Get PDFSuccessive governments in Ghana have pursued numerous public sector compensation reform
programmes to attract and retain high calibre of trained professionals capable of rendering quality services in the public sector. Teachers in the country’s public service continue to search for greener economic pastures thus raising attrition thereof. This study sought to examine the extent to which compensation influences teacher attrition and assess the impact of the phenomenon. This study adopted mixed method design. Snowballing and purposive sampling strategies were used to select 20 retired graduate teachers and 30 former teachers who have quit the service and taken up new appointments elsewhere from the Ashanti and Central regions of Ghana for qualitative data. Focus group discussions were also employed. Systematic sampling technique was used to draw 150 teachers in active service from public senior high schools in the regions to participate in the study. Questionnaire was used to elicit quantitative responses on the factors that influence their attrition intentions. Data were analysed using regression and themes. Findings of the study indicated that pay was one critical factor that influenced the attrition intentions of teachers. Based on the findings, the study among others recommended that the compensation of teachers should be improved by not only enhancing the basic pay, but also to introduce some other allowances to make the profession more attractive to stem the tide of attrition of teachers
INCIDENCE OF MATHEMATICS ANXIETY AMONG JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS’ LEARNING OF MATHEMATICS IN GHANA: Incidence of mathematics anxiety
No full textThere is no gainsaying that mathematics anxiety continues to scare during classroom instruction. However, its real incidences as freely expressed by learners remain unexploited. This study therefore explored the incidences of mathematics anxiety among public junior high school learners in Effutu Municipality of Ghana. In achieving this purpose, the researchers employed a qualitative descriptive phenomenological design in which purposive sampling procedure was used to select seven students from a population of junior high school two learners. The instrument used for data collection was interview guide. The learners were guided to freely express their opinions to reduce response redundancy. These responses from the participants were further trimmed into well-defined themes for analysis. The results of the responses showed high incidences of mathematics anxiety among the learners. The findings showed that the commonest incidences were forgetfulness, fear, inappropriate methods, inadequate practice and examinations phobia. In order to minimize these incidences, it was recommended among others that teachers should use teaching and learning aids peculiar to learners’ environment and provide a variety of instruments to provoke varied learning styles
EFFECTS OF SOCIAL NETWORK SITES ON TEACHER TRAINEES’ GRAMMAR AND SPELLING SKILLS IN GHANAIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
Get PDFAgainst the backdrop of social network sites pluralism, this study was conducted to explore the effects of social network sites on teacher trainees’ grammar and spelling skills. The study adopted descriptive design. The simple random sampling technique was used to select 335 respondents from three colleges of education: Bagabaga, St. John Bosco and Tumu to complete sets of questionnaires. Data collection covered respondents’ bio data, reasons and rationales of social network sites, benefits of social network sites and effects of social network sites on trainees’ grammar and spelling skills. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and multiple regression were used for data analysis. The findings show that an overwhelmingly majority of teacher trainees use jargons, shorthand, abbreviations and acronyms on WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook accounts, which affect their grammar and spelling skills resulting in poor performance in English Language test. The study asserts that teacher trainees could do better if they stick to good use of words while communicating on social network sites with their peers
ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TEACHING PRACTICE MODEL OF COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN GHANA: THE CASE OF ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, BECHEM
Get PDFThis study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the teaching practice model in the St. Joseph’s
College of Education, Bechem. The study was a descriptive survey. A sample size of 115 randomly selected third year student teachers of the 2018/2019 academic year was used for the study. A 30-item close-ended questionnaire with indicators of effectiveness as competencies acquired, supervision, duration and school-community relation of teaching practice was used as the data collection instrument. The results showed that generally, the teaching practice exercise in the St. Joseph’s College of Education, Bechem was effective as more than 90 % of the student teachers agreed that the teaching practice gave them the opportunity to gain all the professional competences. Supervision was seen as very effective as college tutors went to supervise student teachers at least twice in a semester. To the student teachers, the duration of the teaching practice was enough even though they had to leave the classroom once in very month to attend lectures. The relationship of the school and the community with the student teachers was very cordial and student teachers felt at home in their schools of practice and communities of stay. It was recommended among others that the authorities in the St. Joseph College of Education, Bechem should be updating the expertise of the tutors as a way of professionally developing their competencies and that of the student teachers
DECLINE IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN COMMUNITY ‘A’ AND ‘B’ JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE ROLE OF THE GHANA EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN (2010-2020)
Get PDFThis was a study aimed at exploring the causes of the decline in academic performance of pupils
despite the implementation of Ghana’s Strategic Plan on quality education in the Mumford Community A and B Junior High Schools in the Gomoa West. As a qualitative study, it adopted a case study design. In all, the researcher selected 24 participants for the study comprising of two headteachers, 14 teachers and eight immediate past pupils from a population of basic school teachers, pupils and graduates from Basic Education Certificate Examinations. The primary method employed to collect data was interview guide. The study revealed that inadequate infrastructure, inadequate teaching and learning resources and poor communication were the main factors impeding the effective implementation of the Education Strategic Plan. The study concludes that the strategic plan does not address other factors affecting academic performance including home related and pupil characteristic issues which have been identified in this study. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the District Assemblies should prioritise the provision of school infrastructure and teaching and learning resources in their areas of jurisdictions for effective implementation of the Education Strategic Plan. Also, there should be broader stakeholder consultation and involvement in the process of developing and implementing strategic education plans
TEACHER RETENTION IN BASIC SCHOOLS OF THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES: IMPLICATION FOR TEACHER DEPLOYMENT POLICY
Get PDFTeachers’ retention continue to remain a challenge, especially in the rural and peri-urban areas of Ghana. The purpose of this study was to examine the various factors that are responsible for teacher retention in their home communities and how these factors are militating against their continuing stay in the profession in the Nanumba South District. A total of seventy (76) respondents were surveyed for this study. This comprises twenty-four teachers from Junior High Schools and fifty-two (52) teachers from the primary schools. The purposive stratified sampling technique was adopted, and data collected with a structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that the motivation for accepting posting to their home community schools included the strong motivation to give back to the communities and the respect they received from community members. It is also established that teachers were willing to continue to stay in their communities because they were respected and motivated by the community’s members. The collaboration teachers received from each other and remedial classes they organize helped to improve teaching and learning. Economic pressure from family members and the lack of interest of parents in education were some reasons that made teachers exited their home communities. It is therefore recommended that the GES should organise orientation fora for communities to embrace their own kind to their home communities as teachers. The teachers should also be encouraged to accept posting to their home communities through specialized awards and incentives. Educational infrastructure should be equitably distributed across the district. There should be a special package for teachers who accept postings to their home communities in rural settings to enable them to develop themselves academically
Assessment of work-life balance among Senior Female Administrators: A case study of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana
No full textAnecdotal evidence on burnout and untimely deaths in some public universities across Ghana has heightened the need for attainment of work-life balance. Juggling teaching, research, publishing and personal commitments can be a challenge in the academia. Using a concurrent triangulation mixed methods approach, this exploratory study assessed work-life balance of some 80 senior female administrators at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. The results indicate that attainment of work-life balance depends on some variables such as age, marital status, parity and rank. The prospects of utilising technology to balance work and life seemed promising to promoting work-life balance for female senior administrators in the University. Although intuitive, four promoters of work life balance namely flexible work starting hours, flexible work closing hours, career break/sabbatical, and time-off for family engagements were explicitly identified by the respondents. The support of other family members such as partners was perceived to be a major fulcrum around which working women could attain work-life balance. It was recommended that Ghanaian women in public career spaces should be provided with conducive working environments like flexible working hours, extended paid maternity leave, paid paternity leave or provision of Early Childhood Centres closed to office environment. These also require national policy intervention on school vacations to allow schools keep lean staff during vacations to attend to children of career women