CHALLENGES FACING HEADTEACHERS OF PUBLIC EARLY GRADE SCHOOLS IN THE AWUTU-SENYA WEST DISTRICT, GHANA

Abstract

Literature indicates that most Early Grade schools in Ghana are managed by people who have not undergone relevant training as there are no pre-service training opportunities in the county for them. People who are untrained for assigned tasks may encounter challenges in task execution. The purpose of this paper was to examine the challenges confronting heads of public Early Grade schools in the Awutu Senya West District. Mixed methods approach underpinned by pragmatism was employed for the study. Specifically, sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used. The population was 120, comprising 60 headteachers and 60 assistants headteachers, who were all involved in the study through census frame at the quantitative phase of the study, to respond to a questionnaire. while maximal variation technique was employed to select 12 participants (6 headteachers and 6 assistant headteachers) for interviews at the qualitative phase. The quantitative data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation with the aid of SPSS v.24. The qualitative data collected in the second phase of the study was used to explain, clarify or expand the initial quantitative findings, when necessary. It emerged that inadequate teaching staff and material resources, low level of motivation among staff, teacher retention, and large class-sizes, among others, constituted the administrative-related challenges confronting the Early Grade headteachers in the study area. The study also found out that inadequate funding by the government, budgetary constraints, and delay in releasing funds constituted the financial-related challenges of the headteachers. The study concluded that the financial challenges posed a threat to effective management and development of the schools. Therefore, to augment the effort of the government, it was recommended that the schools should engage in income generating activities and organise events such Speech and Prize-Giving Days, and ‘Back-to-school weeks’, where efforts could be made to invite parents and business leaders and encourage them to donate funds and materials resources for the development of the schools.