GHANA JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND TEACHING

INFLUENCE OF PARENTS’ INCOME ON STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS (SHS) IN THE AWUTU-SENYA AND EFFUTU EDUCATIONAL DISTRICTS

Daniel Yelkpieri — 2024-11-20

The study sought to investigate how parents’ income levels influence their ability to support their children’s education at the SHS level, and how such situations affect students’ academic performance in schools. A cross sectional survey was used as the design. The sample size was 528. The population of the study consisted of school officials, teachers, students and parents. Purposive, census, quota and random sampling techniques were employed to select the respondents. Questionnaire, semi-structured interview schedules, and documents were used in the data collection process. Descriptive statistics were used in presenting the data. Teachers agreed that the financial status of parents generally affected students’ achievement levels in the study area. Parents found it difficult to support their children’s education and were unable to pay their school fees, other levies and also provide their educational materials. Parents who were hard hit by this situation were those who did not have employable skills such as subsistent farmers. The study further found that about 22% of the students owed fees in arrears. Respondents were of the view that well educated parents who were well paid were able to pay for their students’ education and provided their needs. It is recommended that the Government of Ghana should take measures to ensure that needy students are given scholarships and bursaries so as to reduce their financial pressures they experience in school.

Mathematizing Mathematics in Holy Writ

Nixon Saba Adzifome — 2024-11-20

Studies have unraveled and given exposition on mathematics inherent in Holy Writ, the Bible. This study provides further evidence of more implicit and explicit mathematics in its words, verses and chapters. These are furnished through document analysis and purposeful mathematizing and explication of a selected host of Biblical texts and contexts to demonstrate their mathematical nature and worth. It reveals mathematics, some amenable to formulation, are embedded in the texts and underlie the contexts of scripture. It further reveals, among others, that internal logic, coherence and fact-validation, and diversity of content areas that match 21st century curriculum characterize mathematics in the Bible. Recommendations were made for faith-based Christian schools to incorporate mathematics in biblical context into their curriculum and for this study to be replicated with other religious texts.

Assessment of Job Satisfaction among Early Childhood Education Teachers in Edo State, Nigeria

Nkechi Obiweluozor — 2024-11-20

The study examined job satisfaction among early childhood education teachers in Edo State. Four research questions were raised for the study, and three were formulated into hypotheses. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The study’s population comprises all the one thousand and twenty-one (1021) public early childhood education schools and one thousand two hundred and sixty-three (1263) early childhood education teachers in Edo State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample of one hundred and two early childhood schools and one hundred and twenty-six early childhood teachers in the three senatorial districts of Edo State. A questionnaire (JSAECETQ) validated with a reliability coefficient of 0.97 was used to collect data from the respondents. The research questions were analysed using mean and standard deviation while hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that the level of job satisfaction among early childhood education teachers in Edo State is low and that there is a positive and significant relationship between working conditions, professional growth and advancement opportunities and job satisfaction among early childhood teachers in Edo State. The finding also revealed that there is no significant relationship between the involvement of early childhood teachers in school administration and job satisfaction among early childhood education teachers in Edo State. Based on the findings, the study recommended that the working conditions of early childhood teachers should be improved upon by the relevant stakeholders by making adequate provision for their “welfare needs such as car loans, accommodation facilities, study leave with pay, leave of absence when needed, provision of instructional materials to improve their job performance, protection from occupational hazards and regular promotion as at when due.

Genetic Testing: Knowledge, Attitude and Genetic Risk Information of Women, Implications for Counselling among Girls in Oyo State, Nigeria

Oyundoyin Bolanle — 2024-11-20

Genetic diseases or congenital abnormalities resulting in developmental disorders among children that has led to untold hardship in families could have been averted if women had gone through genetic testing before marriage or conception. This study examined the Knowledge, Attitude and Genetic Risk Information (GRI) of Women on Genetic Testing in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Questionnaire was used to elicit information from 200 respondents. Three null hypotheses were raised and data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, means, standard deviation, Chi-square, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC).Chi-square results socio-demographic characteristics (age, educational qualification, employment status, marital status, number of children, tribe and religion) and knowledge on Genetic Testing of respondents on genetic testing showed that educational qualification (X2= 41.64, p=0.00) and tribe (X2=12.60, p=0.00) influenced their knowledge. Secondly, religion X2 = 7.97, p=0.02 was significant in influencing the attitude of the respondents towards genetic testing when compared with socio-demographic characteristics. However, genetic risk information and attitude towards genetic testing was significant using PPMC as (r= 0.17, p = 0.02). In conclusion, educational qualification and tribe influenced the knowledge of the respondents on genetic testing. Religion and the availability of genetic risk information positively affected individuals' attitude towards genetic testing. It was recommended that education on genetic testing and genetic risk information should be organised so as to educate women about genetic testing, thereby influencing their attitude positively towards their participation in genetic testing.

RESOURCE FACTORS AND SKILLS SUPPLY TO LABOUR MARKETS IN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Opeyemi Seyi OLASUNKANMI — 2024-11-20

The study investigated resource factors and skills supply to labour markets in private universities in southwestern Nigeria. Skills acquired by graduates are important to economic productivity and economic development. Despite its importance, different stakeholders have been complaining of inadequacy of these skills in university graduates especially among fresh graduates in Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Multi stage sampling procedure was used. At the first stage, purposive sampling technique was used to select 10 private universities that have been in operation for minimum of ten years in Southwestern, Nigeria. At the second stage, simple random sampling technique was used to select 173 Heads of Departments in the sampled faculties. At the third stage, human resource managers in seven firms (Communication, Banking, Education, Health, Judiciary, Manufacturing/Construction and Agricultural) were sampled for the study. The instruments used were Questionnaire on Skills Supplied by Private Universities to Labour Market (= 0.89) and Questionnaire on Resource Factors and Skills Supply in Private Universities (r = 0.81). Statistical tools used were Frequency counts, Pearson product-moment correlation and Multiple regression at 0.05 level of significance. Private universities met the benchmark of National Universities Commissions but about 53.2% of their academic staff were either on part time / adjunct appointment or on sabbatical appointment. There were positive significant relationships between resource factors and skills supply (r=0.201 P<0.05). Resource factors jointly contributed to skills supply by private universities (F(4,18) = 176.07; Adj. R2=0.64), accounting for 64.0% of its variance. Academic staff profile (?=0.55) and availability of ICT (?=0.35) relatively contributed to skills supply by private universities. It was recommended that management of private universities in southwestern Nigeria should increase the number of full-time academic staff and part time teaching staff should be discouraged so as to have more academic staff that will be fully on ground for the attention of students.

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS AS A TOOL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Felicia OLUWALOLA — 2024-11-20

Technological innovation deals with using technology to address national problems through the use of resources without affecting future generations. At the same time, sustainable development covers economic, social, ecological, and environmental issues relating to the disposal of waste, provision of good drinking water, and food production. The study examined the impact of technological innovation on sustainable development in Kwara State. A descriptive survey was adopted. Five research questions were raised and answered. The population of the study comprised 2126 teachers while the sample consisted of 322 respondents selected through random sampling technique. Five hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. A structured questionnaire titled “Technological Innovation and Sustainable Development Questionnaire” (ILSDQ) was used to collect data for the study. Reliability analysis was carried out using the pilot test method and it yielded a coefficient of 0.71. Descriptive statistics methods of median were used to answer research questions while partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. There was a high level of technological innovation that had a positive impact on sustainable development. The use of virtual reality and cloud computing was high. It was recommended that virtual reality and cloud computing should be used more to improve sustainable development.

INDISCIPLINE IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN GHANA

Cosmos Dzikunu — 2024-11-20

The 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.

TEACHER RETENTION IN BASIC SCHOOLS OF THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES: IMPLICATION FOR TEACHER DEPLOYMENT POLICY

Cosmos Kwame Dzikunu — 2024-11-20

Teachers’ 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.