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The study examined how local artisans and mathematics teachers think the Akan traditional art might help senior high school students learn geometry. The Akan people live in Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study targeted experienced mathematics teachers and Akan traditional art experts. Seven experienced mathematics teachers and three craftsmen were chosen using purposive sampling. We conducted interviews with participants using a semi-structured guide to collect detailed data. The data was thematically analysed. The analysis revealed four themes; demonstrating how teachers use students' experiences to build new knowledge and help them apply it to new situations. We conclude that geometry is linked to the Akan culture and encourage instructors to adjust school geometry accordingly and also encourage ethnomathematics research. [Note: The page range (81-100) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct page range is 81-101.]

This paper seeks to gain insights into teachers' perceptions, and readiness to integrate information and communication technology (ICT) tools in mathematics instruction. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving surveys and interviews with a sample of high school mathematics teachers. The study involved 90 mathematics teachers working in three senior high schools in Kumasi metropolis in Ghana. The study revealed that teachers generally hold positive perceptions of the benefits of ICT tools in mathematics teaching. They strongly agree that ICT tools enhance students' understanding of mathematical concepts and improve their engagement and motivation in mathematics classes. Teachers also recognize the potential of ICT tools in promoting problem-solving skills and providing opportunities for differentiation and personalized learning. However, opinions regarding student-centered learning, exploration, and creativity through ICT tools were more varied, suggesting a need for further investigation and support in these areas. In addition teachers expressed the need for continuous training on specific tools, curriculum alignment, and assessment methods.

This study aimed to investigate students' digital (ICT) skills, perceived relevance (usefulness), and actual use of digital (ICTs) skills for learning. Data were obtained via Google Forms from 325 students who were conveniently sampled from two public universities in Ghana. The results from the multivariate analysis of variance showed that age and marital status had significant multivariate effects on ICT (digital) skills. Further univariate analyses showed that younger students reported significantly lower skills related to multimedia, collaborative platforms, and graphics, whereas married students reported higher skills related to engagement in collaborative platforms. Bivariate correlation analyses showed that multimedia skills, software application skills, virtual reality environment skills, collaborative platform skills, and perceived usefulness of ICT were positively correlated with the actual use of ICT. However, further analysis using multiple linear regression showed that only multimedia skills significantly predicted actual ICT use. The implications of the findings for policy are discussed.

Science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) education, the current engine for this technological generation, has made its way into Ghana's education system and is progressively becoming autonomous, particularly at the senior high level. It depends extensively on student mathematics performance to progress into their various dream STEM career programs. It is worthwhile to study the relationships between STEM students' mathematics (perception, self-efficacy, and connection) and mathematics achievement with their study interest mediating between them. The researchers purposively and conveniently sampled 385 general science respondents from eight selected senior high schools in the Kumasi metropolis for this study. The study produces results by quantifying and analyzing the collected data by investigating the six distinct hypotheses with structural equation model (SEM) using SPSS (26) and AMOS (24) software to confirm or refute fundamental assumptions. The study suggests that general science students' mathematics self-efficacy and connection directly impact their mathematics performance and, at the same time, somewhat mediate their ability to perform well in mathematics through their study interest. Moreover, there was no relationship between mathematical perception and student interest or achievement. Students must continue to evaluate the efficacy of their learning tactics to achieve academic excellence, and they must make reliable and self-efficacious evaluations of their mathematical learning as well as their mathematics connections to other STEM subjects to improve their study interest and mathematics achievement. The study recommends that stakeholders, curriculum developers, and implementers of the new STEM curriculum try to connect mathematics to all aspects of STEM as much as possible to either directly improve their performance or increase their interest in improving their mathematics education.

Aim: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of teacher's pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK) on students' academic performance in circle theorem. Methods: The study used a mixed-methods research approach and a sequential explanatory design with a sample 210 students selected through the probability systematic sampling technique. The primary data was collected using questionnaire, an interview guide and a circle theorem achievement test. The data collected was analyzed using, the regression tool, and deductive manual thematic analysis, which was used for only the qualitative data collected from the interviews. Results: The study found a significant relationship between the independent variable teacher's pedagogical content knowledge and the dependent variable academic performance in circle theorem signifying that students' performance in circles theorem depends on the pedagogical content knowledge of the teacher. Conclusion: Based on the findings that emanated from the data analysed, the study concluded that teachers' pedagogical content knowledge has a significant relationship with students' academic performance in circle theorem. Recommendation: the study recommends that Ghana Education Service organise training conferences and workshops aimed at improving teachers' pedagogical circle theorem content knowledge.

The study examined the mediating roles of students' perception of mathematics, students' self-efficacy and cooperative learning strategies in the relationship between teacher-student relationship and students' mathematics achievement in all the senior high schools at Atwima Nwabiagya North District. The study was carried out using the descriptive survey design. The target population was second-year students. Through purposive, proportionate stratified, and simple random sampling techniques, questionnaires were administered to 346 second year students, however, 320 questionnaires were returned. The data collected were analyzed using structural equation model with bootstrap samples. It was found that teacher-student relationship was significant negative predictor of students' mathematics achievement. The study also discovered that, students' perception of mathematics, students' self-efficacy and cooperative learning strategies were partially mediated the relationship between teacher-student relationship and students' mathematics achievement. It was suggested based on the findings that mathematics teachers should be mindful of their relationship with the students, employ varieties of techniques when dealing with students with bad perception of mathematics and also consider the kind of collaborative learning techniques to be adopted in order to accelerate students' mathematics achievement.

Education systems worldwide recognise the value and promise of technology as a catalyst for transforming pedagogy and promoting student learning. However, several factors stymie teachers' technology integration practices in pursuit of these desired aspirations. This qualitative study investigates, from the perspective of key education stakeholders, major barriers affecting teachers' adoption of technologies as meaningful pedagogical tools in Ghana's classrooms. Twenty teachers, five headteachers, and five education officials from two education districts completed indepth phone interviews with open-ended questions on these barriers. Informed by Ertmer's barriers to change theoretical lens, the findings revealed six contextual factors impacting effective technology integration, namely, "first-order barriers" -- technological resource availability; leadership support; teacher professional development, and "second-order barriers" -- teacher technological know-how; pedagogical beliefs and interest in technology use; and students' familiarity with technology. The first-order barriers were perceived to have a more significant impact than the second-order barriers. The findings contradict the commonly held claim that the impact of first-order barriers is diminishing, as this was not evident in the context of the study. The study offers implications for research, policy, and practice concerning the barriers that demand the utmost attention to advance effective technology integration, especially in developing countries.

The ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic on society affected several facets including formal education. Significantly, the indefinite closure of schools was introduced to control the spread and related fatality of the pandemic making the decision to reopen schools for all learners in January 2021 after several months of closure a preparedness concern. Using a national school-based survey informed by Event Systems and Chaos theories, the paper explores the preparedness of schools to re-open post-COVID-19 school closure. From the findings, it became evident that schools in Ghana were generally prepared to re-open per schedule. However, there existed unique disparities in some school system sub-levels informed by the location of the school. Consequently, we recommend: (1) the need to take advantage of the confidence the school system had regarding reopening for undertaking build-back efforts in future pandemics, and (2) policy and research response, especially for the vulnerable in resilience building post-emergency recovery in schools.

Early childhood education (ECE) in Ghana has grown from a traditional approach to a more formalised and modernised system of care and education services for young children. As a valued practice, ECE reflects a distributive, regulatory or redistributive policy. The paper analyses Ghana's ECE policy implementation using McDonnell and Elmore's framework of five elemental instruments. We supported the analysis with ECE policy documents and research in ECE. Enabling and inhibiting policy instrument factors affecting ECE were identified and ways were devised to enhance the latter. We found that while ECE policy and practice has somewhat addressed equity and access issues, concerns exist regarding implementation factors such as quality teacher training and parent involvement for promoting effective programs. The paper recommends the need to evaluate ECE and provide planned and ongoing opportunities to advance the professional development, capacity, and motivation of ECE implementers, especially early childhood teachers.

Purpose: Online learning has come to stay in a technologically advancing world with increasing populations. The search for ways to make online learning more efficient and effective in some developing countries continues as the accompanying issues in developing country contexts abound. This paper explores the issues that underlie online learning management in a developing country context, focusing on the Moodle, Sakai and Zoom platforms used in some selected public universities in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: The study relied on the qualitative approach to data collection and a descriptive design for analysis. Using the social constructivism theory, the paper discussed the critical issues students, and to a lesser extent, instructors encounter in their engagement on these platforms for academic learning. Findings: The study found that the inefficient use of these platforms is due to several factors including the high cost of data, poor perception of the quality of online learning compared to traditional in-person contacts, poor attitude of students, low participation in online learning, lack of computers and poor internet connectivity among others. Research limitations/implications: It is important to mention that this study was limited to some selected public universities in Ghana. Data could have been collected from a wider sample including other Ghanaian tertiary institutions or some other developing countries. The similarity of study outcomes in other developing countries, however, suggests that similar results would have been obtained in an international sample. Practical implications: Despite the robustness of the Learning Management systems in place, the evidence suggests that their utilisation is far less than optimal. However, with relevant policies and the provision of needed technical support, training, provision of equipment like computers for use by both students and instructors and efficient internet connectivity, the LMS platforms could be more efficient for online learning. Originality/value: The authors conducted this research using original data from interviews in the selected public universities in Ghana. The data was meant to inform the discussion on some of the critical issues that underlie online learning in a developing country context. Although the study relied on data from selected public universities in a single country, its outcomes reflect fundamental issues of online learning in a developing country context which find relevance in available study outcomes.

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, higher education (HE) students find themselves at the crossroads of two critical aspects: their digital competencies and their digital citizenship. Given the ubiquitous integration of digital technologies in educational settings, it is essential to investigate the relationship between students' digital competencies and their ability to engage as responsible digital citizens. This study examined the nexus between digital competencies and citizenship among HE students. This study involved 247 students from a Ghanaian HE institution. Digital competency and citizenship scales were used as data collection instruments. The findings revealed that problem-solving, communication and collaboration, and digital content creation competencies had a significant positive influence on HE students' digital citizenship. Conversely, safety competence has no significant influence on digital citizenship. Interestingly, data and information literacy competence have a negative effect on digital citizenship. The implications of these findings provide valuable insights for educational institutions, policymakers, and educators to foster digital competencies and promote responsible digital citizenship among HE students.

The study examined the influence of university students' religious literacy on their religiosity, while paying attention to their background characteristics such as field of study and religious affiliation. The urgency of this study lies in the fact that there seem to be numerous bizarre religious beliefs and practices that require people's critical approach (religious literacy) towards these practices (religiosity). However, it appears that this kind of investigation is missing in earlier studies. Therefore, using the cross-sectional survey design, 90 university students reading English and 60 students reading Religious Studies at the university of Cape Coast were considered for the study. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation as well as inferential statistics such as Independent samples t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and PLS-SEM were used to for data analysis. Results from the study showed high levels of religious literacy and religiosity of university students. In addition, no statistically significant differences were observed in university students' religious literacy based on their field of study and their religious affiliation. Results of the study further indicated that university students' religious literacy influenced their religiosity. It is recommended that the curriculum of Religious Education and other subjects should be developed with the aim of inculcating in students the philosophic conventions of critical literacy as to question the epistemic realities of some emerging religious beliefs and practices together with some sociopolitical occurrences in this contemporary pluralistic environment.

Drawing instruction in Ghanaian high school art education traditionally emphasizes observational and technical skills grounded in realism. However, contemporary drawing has evolved to prioritize innovative techniques, conceptual thinking, and process-oriented approaches. This phenomenological study aimed to understand Bolgatanga high school students' experiences learning contemporary drawing practices and their engagement with these methods. Data collected through interviews, reflections, and observations with 12 Bolgatanga high school students completing a contemporary drawing unit revealed initial discomfort yet excitement when departing from realism, pride in mastering unfamiliar techniques, deeper engagement through personal material and subject choices, and appreciation for expression over replication. Findings suggest contemporary drawing instruction enhances student engagement in art by shifting focus to experimentation, conceptual thinking, and meaningful self-expression. The study concludes with recommendations for high school art educators to introduce contemporary approaches effectively that engage students in diverse artistic possibilities of drawing.

In the field of modern education, the meteoric rise in distance learning in higher education has brought unprecedented convenience and accessibility. Yet, beneath the surface of this educational revolution lies the issues of academic stress and burnout among students, particularly distance education students. Therefore, this study examined academic stress and burnout among distance education students at the University of Education, Winneba, Cape Coast Study Center. A quantitative approach was adopted in this study, employing a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. In total, 231 students were selected for this study. The Academic Stress Inventory and Academic Burnout Inventory were adapted as the data collection instruments for this study. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (Two-way MANOVA) were used to analyse the data. This study revealed that distance education students had moderate levels of academic stress and burnout. Additionally, there were no significant gender differences in academic stress and burnout. Conversely, the study discovered significant differences in academic stress, personal burnout, and studies-related burnout based on programme of study. In addition, it was revealed that the interaction effect of gender and programme of study had no significant influence on distance education students' academic stress and burnout. Consequently, it was recommended that educational institutions should consider creating support programmes tailored specifically for distance education students. These programmes can offer guidance on stress management techniques, time management skills, and resources to help students cope with the demands of their programme.

Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES), since its development, has gained much popularity because of its adequate psychometric properties. Yet, scholarly information on the soundness of this instrument in the African context has not been documented. Besides, the previous validation studies on the TSES have yielded mixed results with different factor structures, calling for further studies to test its utility and use across different cultures. The purpose of this study was to revalidate the TSES in Ghana using item response theory (IRT) complemented by factor analyses. Through a validation study approach, 693 basic school teachers were purposively sampled to participate in the research by responding to the Teacher Efficacy Scale. The between-item and within-item multidimensional IRT analyses combined with factor analysis were performed to understand how the items functioned with intentions to propose a well-fit instrument within the Ghanaian context. The outcome of this research revealed that the original TSES with a three-factor structure, 24 items measured on a 9-point scale did not provide an optimal measure of teachers' self-efficacy within the Ghanaian context. Rather, a three-structure scale with 18 items and a 6-point scale offered a maximal measure of teachers' self-efficacy. The practical implications of the findings are discussed.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to explore university teachers' stages of concerns (SoC) about the adoption of the Moodle LMS at the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Ghana. Hundred and thirty-one (131) participants (university teachers) were randomly selected from the Kumasi Campus of AAMUSTED to participate in the study. Results revealed that the university teachers had primary and secondary concerns at the personal and consequence stages of the SoC, respectively. At the awareness stage, they reported having low levels of concerns. Participants' socio-demographics (i.e. gender, age, educational qualification, rank, and teaching experience) had no significant relationship with the overall stages of concerns. Implications of these findings have been discussed to help address university teachers' concerns about the adoption of online learning management systems in HEIs in low- and middle-income countries, where online education is rife with issues.

In Ghana, private higher education institutions' (PHEIs) share of gross tertiary enrolment is on the decline in the midst of growing demand for tertiary education. Whether this is, an indication of PHEIs in Ghana becoming endangered species in the higher education space has received limited research attention. Through documentary reviews and interviews of purposively selected 22 key informants, including Presidents, Vice Presidents, Registrars, Finance Officers of PHEIs and Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) Academic Auditors, this study investigates the viability and sustainability of PHEIs in Ghana. Resource Dependency Theory guided the study. The emerging issues, which relate to dynamics of students' enrolments, funding, affiliation policy, staffing and innovativeness provide indicative realities of short-term viability and long-term sustainability of PHEIs in Ghana that make them appear endangered species. The study concludes that PHEIs in Ghana are vulnerable with respect to their short-term operational viability and long-term sustainability which make them appear endangered species with a plausible implication of heightening the pressure on the public purse to expand and or establish more public HEIs in order to meet the ever-increasing demand for higher education.

This study investigated the use of collaborative instructional approaches on form two science students' performance in redox reactions. The sample for this study consisted of 106 science students from Winneba Senior High School in Ghana. The sample was selected from two intact classes in the school. After a pre-test organized for both classes, the class with the lower average score was assigned as the experimental group and the other class assigned the control group. Interviews, questionnaires, and tests were used as the main instruments to collect data for the study. The reliability of the questionnaire, pre-test, and post-test items which were determined using Cronbach alpha ranged from 0.76 to 0.80. A collaborative learning text-oriented instruction was applied in teaching the experimental group whereas conventional approach was used in teaching the control group. It was also found that a number of the students who took part in the study had wrong notions about redox reactions. The findings showed that there was a significant difference in performance between the experimental and control groups. The experimental group performed better in the post-test than the control group. It is recommended that chemistry teachers in Ghana should employ the collaborative learning approach in teaching chemistry to enhance the students' learning.

This paper reports on a study that sought to improve pre-service science teachers' performance in the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature of aliphatic hydrocarbons using flipped classroom instructional approach (FCA). The study employed a single group pre- and post-test action research design. The sample size consisted of forty-five (45) 1st year pre-service science teachers of Foso College of Education (FOSCO) taking the Introduction to Organic Chemistry I course. Apurposive sampling technique of the non-probability sampling procedure was used to select the pre-service science teachers in an intact class. Pre-Service Science Teachers' Hydrocarbon Concept Diagnostic Test and Pre-Service Science Teachers' Hydrocarbon Concept Achievement Test were the research instruments used to collect the data. The instruments were pilot-tested at St. Ambrose College of Education and the reliability index found to be 0.75 for the pre-intervention test and 0.78 for the post-intervention test. After 9 weeks of engaging pre-service science teachers through in-class face-to-face activities and out-of-class online interaction of teaching and learning IUPAC nomenclature of aliphatic hydrocarbons, it came to light that pre-service science teachers' performance had improved greatly after they have been exposed to FCA as an intervention strategy. It was recommended that College of Education chemistry tutors should adopt newly interactive and innovative instructional strategies such as the FCA so as to help pre-service science teachers overcome challenging chemical concepts like the IUPAC nomenclature and other difficult chemistry concepts in and out of colleges or schools.

The purpose of this research was to analyze students' experiences in the flipped classroom and examine their perceptions of learning outcomes. This study aimed to introduce the flipped classroom approach (FCA) to undergraduate students to elicit more practical and conceptual information on how teachers can use this approach. The study utilized a mixed case study research design with triangulation to collect data through a survey and focus groups. The results showed that most students had positive perceptions of the flipped classroom in terms of engagement, usefulness, effectiveness, expectation, and satisfaction and would recommend the course taught using the flipped classroom approach. Also, the flipped classroom had positive learning impacts such as achievement, motivation, critical thinking, and collaborative learning. However, students faced some challenges learning in the flipped classroom environment due to a lack of resources to support their learning. The research contributes to the limited existing literature on flipped classrooms for stakeholders in developing countries.

This study investigated the effects of flipped inquiry-based learning approach (FIBL) on chemistry students' academic performance and learning experiences. This study utilized a mixed research methods approach with a quasi-experimental design. A convenient sampling technique was used to identify pre-service teachers studying chemistry at the college of education in Ghana. Quantitative data was obtained using a chemistry academic achievement test and critical thinking skills test. Qualitative data was obtained through a focus group conducted in the experimental class. Results from the quantitative data analysis showed a significant increase in students' academic performance and critical thinking skills in the pre-and post-test scores in experimental classes. Female pre-service teachers performed better with higher scores in chemistry learning outcomes than their male colleagues. In addition, the focus group results showed that students had positive views on learning in the FIBL environment in terms of learning convenience, peer collaboration, conceptual understanding, and learning skills. The study provides insight into flipped and inquiry-based learning as effective pedagogical approaches for delivering chemistry instructions. Overall, the results show that flipped inquiry-based learning is an effective pedagogical approach enabling students to develop learning potentials in chemistry.

Inclusive education (IE) in the early years enhances young children's learning, socialization, and development; yet, children with disability are one group that is often isolated, excluded, or marginalized in early childhood education. This paper examines jointly the perceived exclusion practices, teacher qualities, and professional development and the interplay and impact of these factors on effective inclusive early childhood education. Drawing on data collected from individual interviews with teachers and headteachers in a large early childhood and school setting in Ghana, findings of this qualitative study indicate the exclusion practices of teachers. The findings suggest that resistance to IE limits learning, engagement, and social opportunities for children, especially those with disability. The findings also identify that effective teacher qualities and professional development enhance the provision of quality inclusive early childhood education. The study reinforces the need for improved support for teachers and to make sure that they are placed at the center of IE policy and practice.

Recent studies on student politics and governance have shown that electoral clientelism (EC) in university student elections is often facilitated by clientelist relations between student leaders and political parties. However, there is a dearth of empirical research investigating the various forms of electoral clientelism, as manifested through vote-buying practices in campus electoral politics in African universities. This article, therefore, investigates the multifaceted and changing dynamics of vote-buying in student electoral processes in Ghanaian universities. The study adopted a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with 15 student leaders, 4 university staff working with student leadership, and 4 focus group interviews involving students at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. From our finding, we argue that electoral clientelism takes place in five crucial ways in university student elections in Ghana. These include the provision of direct cash payments, exchanging electoral support for student government positions and appointments, provision of food and beverage consumables, award of student-related business contracts, and provision of educational materials and souvenirs.

Schools create an inclusive environment and cultures and enact inclusive practices to cater for the learning and social needs of learners. Using an adapted Ghana Inclusive Education Monitoring Tool (IEMT), which is based on the Index for Inclusion, we collected data from 74 headteachers of primary schools. Data analysis involved percentages and frequencies of multiple-scaled items of the adapted IEMT. Findings revealed headteachers admit learners with special needs and disabilities (LwSEND) to set the stage for inclusion, while teachers accept these learners in schools. Collaborative cultures among teachers, parents, and other community stakeholders support inclusive education. While classrooms had somewhat good ventilation and lighting, school facilities were less accessible to all learners. Knowledge to adapt the curriculum and the flow of inclusive knowledge among teachers was limited. Suggestions to improve inclusive education include school-wide professional development for sharing inclusive knowledge, enhancing teachers' pedagogical competence and promoting supportive inclusive cultures.

Whilst research works have identified many actors involved in higher education public policymaking in the Ghanaian context, there is a paucity of empirical studies on how the application of a quadruple helix network of policy actors considered essential constituents of higher education provision could create added value to strengthen the policymaking ecosystem in Ghana. Using multiple data collection techniques including, document analysis, in-depth interviews and analytic memoing, this paper examines deeper insights into higher education public policymaking in Ghana from the perspective of a quadruple helix framework of policymaking and argues for an added value in the use of quadruple helix framework in higher education policymaking. The emerging issues show that higher education public policymaking in Ghana does not involve the key quadruple helix of actors in the higher education provision equitably to create a sufficient coalition for policy implementation. Additionally, the emerging issues indicate that the minimal use of research evidence appears to be a major hindrance to a progressive and transformative higher education policymaking in Ghana. Against the backdrop of the emerging issues, we conclude that ineffective use of quadruple helix network of actors in higher education provision contributes to higher education policy implementation challenges in Ghana.

This study explored Economics teachers' efficacy beliefs in the teaching of Economics. The quantitative research approach was adopted for the study with focus on the descriptive cross-sectional survey design. In total, 125 Senior High School Economics teachers were selected for the study. The Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale was adapted as the data collection instrument for the study. Both descriptive statistics (e.g. means and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (MANOVA) were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that Economics teachers were more efficacious in instructional strategies (M = 4.14, SD = 0.94) compared to classroom management (M = 4.04, SD = 0.97) and student engagement (M = 4.03, SD = 0.98). Also, it was found out that there was a statistically significant difference in Economics teachers' efficacy in the teaching of Economics based on their teaching experience. However, the study revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in the Economics teachers' efficacy based on school proprietorship and school location. Therefore, it was recommended that Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Education and Non-Governmental Organisations should continue to organise professional development programmes for teachers to ensure a continuous, progressive and consistent high efficacy level of Economics teachers. Also, private and public SHS headmasters should organise in-service training and professional development programmes for SHS teachers to further enrich their efficacy level. In the organisation of professional development programmes and seminars for teachers, equal attention should be given to rural and urban teachers.

In an era of increasing demand for accessible, quality, and equitable education for all children and increased responsibilities for teachers and educators, inclusive education must be resourced adequately. This article reports on the qualitative findings from a multiple case study of support resources perceived to enhance teachers' efficacy in leading inclusive practice in early childhood settings in Ghana. Teachers, headteachers and education officials, with wide-ranging teaching or supervision experience, were chosen purposefully as participants for this study. Study findings from thematic data analysis revealed that multi-faceted support resources are essential for leading inclusive education and change practice effectively. More importantly, it was evident that the usefulness of support resources was based on teacher judgements, perceptions, and value-addition; system leadership; and understanding of the vision and values related to the education of all children. While some early childhood settings were seemingly well resourced and supported, others were in need of such resources. Most participants, therefore, shared the view that to realise quality and inclusive education for all young children, early childhood settings need to be well-resourced and receive ongoing support. Implications of the findings are discussed in the light of change implementation.

Purpose: Emotions are an important aspect of work performance but are often overlooked, especially amongst preschool teachers whose work environment is laden with emotional job demands. The present study aims to examine the mediating role of emotional exhaustion in the relationship between emotional labour and contextual performance. Design/methodology/approach: Using a cross-sectional design, data were obtained from 288 preschool teachers in the Tema Metropolis in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. The study's hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling with maximum likelihood estimation in AMOS 21.0. Findings: The structural equation modelling analyses revealed that deep acting had a direct positive relationship with contextual performance, whereas the direct relationship between surface acting and contextual performance was not statistically significant. Furthermore, deep acting and surface acting were indirectly related to contextual performance via emotional exhaustion. Practical implications: The study's findings underscore the need for educational institutions and managers to create a supportive environment for teachers engaging in emotional labour, and to ensure that emotional labour is not overburdening teachers. Originality/value: The study contributes to the literature on teachers' engagement in discretionary behaviours by elucidating emotional exhaustion as a linking mechanism between emotional labour and contextual performance in a non-Western context. This is one of the few studies to link emotional labour to contextual performance in the educational context.

Calls for teacher quality are a lively issue in education systems and schools. This paper explores in-service professional development and learning of teachers implementing inclusive education in early childhood settings. Teachers and headteachers of early childhood settings were interviewed in the context of their daily work and practice. Qualitative results from participants showed teachers engage in 'in-and out-of-school' formal and informal professional development activities to enhance their readiness, efficacy, competence, and preparedness for inclusive education. Professional development is seen as an important conduit to improving teachers' learning and motivation for practice, although its effectiveness is affected by the interplay of teacher, school, and system challenges. The study's recommendations include motivating teachers, revitalising formal professional development programs and their provision, and supporting teachers' informal learning activities so that both modes of learning can synergistically contribute to advancing teachers' knowledge, skills, and disposition for inclusive education.

Inclusive language is essential for fostering inclusiveness, belongingness, and the valuing of children in early childhood education. In early childhood settings, inclusive language is used not only to effectively communicate instruction but also provide genuine expectations and hope for all children. However, teachers' use of non-inclusive language can serve as a disincentive, minimising how children openly learn and collaborate with peers and teachers in schools. Analysing a teacher's language use from an observational study in an early childhood classroom through a creative content analytical approach, this study reveals that teachers' non-inclusive language use impact negatively on children's learning, socialisation, emotional wellbeing, and motivation to learn. We identified effective training and professional development as an important vehicle to enhance and equip teachers with knowledge and skills of using inclusive language, particularly as both a pedagogical and motivational tool in early childhood education. The study recommends that teachers should be made aware of the importance of using inclusive language and its associated benefits for educating children rather than the use of non-inclusive language. Some practical implications for using inclusive language are also provided.

Teachers are confronted with many challenges in the science classroom. One of these challenges is finding a reliable learning approach to improve students' performance. This study used peer learning approach of teaching to help students learn and understand concepts in a photosynthesis class. The participants of the study were 40 science students at Shama Senior High School in the Western Region of Ghana. These students were put into mixed ability groups and taught for 10 consecutive weeks. Pre-intervention test, post-intervention test, and questionnaire were the main instruments used to collect data from the students. Descriptive statistics of the data collected shows an immense improvement in students' performance after the implementation of the intervention. The strategy used improved students' learning of photosynthesis in the classroom as well as their performance in the post-intervention test. Based on the findings of this study, it can be said that peer learning approach of teaching has a positive impact on the performance of students in the classroom

This article explores the need to change the bureaucratic leadership structure which has bedeviled state-owned enterprises for many decades and how they compete in the 21st-century business environment where there are uncertainty and chaos. The SOEs suppose provide employment, meet social and political needs, and operate in the sectors of the economy that are of strategic importance to the state. Therefore, SOEs are critical to economic development in emerging economies. The pace of change confronting organizations today has added complexity to the organizational landscape and now calls for more flexible and adaptive leadership. Adaptive leaders can work more effectively in the unstable global business environment and are also able to adopt a proactive approach in order to keep abreast of the increasing stakeholder pressures in the enterprises. However, inadequate applicability of traditional leadership models has indicated the need to develop new leadership models to solve the complex organizational challenges. Hence complexity leadership approach seeks to combine these dynamics to the bureaucratic hierarchies in order to explain the way informal organizational dynamics function correctly and also to describe how these valuable adaptive functions can be promoted to better the operations of SOEs in Ghana.

The study was designed to investigate the impact of First Principles of Instruction (FPI) with computer animation and chart, and their functional effect on gender to acquire expertise in science in Junior High School (JHS). The content for the treatments was selected from JHS integrated science syllabus. The contents of the instructional media were designed in line with the specifications of Principles of Multimedia Learning (PML). All the learning tasks for the two treatments were designed based on FPI. Eighty-seven second-year JHS students (male = 48, female = 39) with a mean age of 14.4 years were randomly assigned to the two treatments. Ateacher was trained to deliver the content. The main study consisted of three sessions, which were delivered in the regular classroom and computer laboratory. Paired-sample and independent t-tests and univariate analyses were used to analyze the data. The result showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two treatments. In addition, the result revealed no significant interaction effect on gender and the two treatments for the acquisition of expertise in science at the basic school. The findings are novel and suggest that static/inexpensive instructional media (e.g.chart) carefully designed with specifications of PML integrated withFPI is equally effective as dynamic instructional media (e.g., computer animation) for the development of expertise in science in the context of traditional classrooms of basic schools irrespective of the gender of the students.

The present study aimed at investigating nomophobia prevalence, thus, recurrence of anxiety without a smartphone, with preservice teachers in the Colleges of Education, Ghana. An actual sample of 345 preservice teachers responded to a 20-item questionnaire on nomophobia (NMP-Q). A one-way MANOVA between different groups statistics was applied in determining the differences in nomophobic behaviours among preservice teachers based on non-technology-related variables (gender, age, specialism, subjective economic status, sleep/rest hours, and religion) and technology-related variables (number of smartphones owned, smartphone ownership duration, active internet services, and daily internet usage time). The results evidenced that the vast majority of preservice teachers had mild to severe nomophobia, and their most significant anxiety was related to access to information and communication. Besides, non-technology-related variables in gender, sleep hours, and subjective economic status significantly impacted the preservice teachers' nomophobia. Technology-related variables that significantly influenced the nomophobic behaviour of preservice teachers included the number of smartphones owned, smartphone ownership duration, and active internet service. A sizable majority of the preservice teachers showed signs of mild to severe nomophobia. The present study provides prefatory support for the prevalence of nomophobia among the Ghanaian preservice teachers.

Social groups and identities significantly influence mental health outcomes, yet their impact in resource-poor communities remains understudied. We explored the role of social group memberships and identities in shaping mental health experiences in two urban poor communities in Ghana. Data from 77 participants were analyzed thematically, revealing widespread engagement in social groups that provide access to both material and symbolic resources. However, these groups also serve as sources of tension and contribute to the stigmatization and marginalization of vulnerable members. Those affected include individuals with severe mental disorders, men experiencing depression, young men involved in substance abuse, family caregivers, migrant and tenant households, and otherwise healthy individuals with recurring psychosocial challenges. The groups exacerbate mental health challenges and restrict access to care among marginalized populations. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing mental health support and reducing stigma in resource-poor settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This was a survey study aimed at finding out the perceptions of headteachers on the leadership styles of Junior High School (JHS) headteachers within the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality. The researchers selected 50 headteachers, purposively through census. A set of closed-ended questionnaire was used, and this comprised 67 items for the JHS headteacher respondents. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and demographic analysis. The study found, among other things, that autocratic, situational and transactional leadership styles were perceived to be the predominant leadership styles practiced by the JHS heads. The study recommended, among other things, that headteachers should practice transformational and democratic leadership styles, and that the Ghana Education Service, policy makers and other stakeholders of education should strengthen the leadership component within the JHS system for effective realization of school objectives. In this respect, appointment of headship in the school setting, especially at the JHS, ought to be made in consideration of professional leadership training, aside other requirements.

Assessment, specifically test construction, forms a critical part of the teaching and learning process. This aspect of teachers' responsibility has been questioned by several authorities in contemporary times. The study explored the test construction skills of Senior High Schools (SHS) teachers in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Using a qualitative document analysis, samples of End-of-Term Examination papers in Integrated Science, Core Mathematics and Social Studies in three selected SHS in the Cape Coast Metropolis were randomly (Lottery method) selected. The assessment tasks on the sampled instruments were critically examined by experts in the area of Educational Measurement and Evaluation. The results revealed that the teachers have limited skills in the construction of end-of-term examination. This was evident as issues were found with the content representativeness and relevance of the test, reliability, and fairness of the assessment tasks which were evaluated. It was recommended that head teachers should take up the challenge of inviting resource persons from recognised academic institutions to organise workshops for teachers on a regular basis to sharpen their skills on effective test construction practices.

The study explored the effectiveness or otherwise of the in-built activities in the course manuals given to DE students of the University of Education in supporting their learning. Adopting the sequential mixed method design, 156 respondents were purposively selected from two study centres of the University. Data were collected using questionnaire and interview guides. Percentages and the thematic approach formed the analytical frame. It came out strongly from the study that almost all students attempted answering the in-text activities in the course modules supplied to them. Issues like inability to manage their time, laziness, and absence of video footage on some of the activities prevented them from getting involved completely in the activities. Further, pressure from schoolwork, as most of them were teachers, and difficulty in understanding some concepts were some of their challenges. The activities, on the other hand, supported DE students to learn effectively, even though some of the activities were very challenging. It was concluded that a number of factors combine to influence how an individual is likely to respond to an activity. These include time constraints, level of difficulty of concepts, nature of the activity and the mode of delivery. It is therefore recommended, among others that the modules need reviewing to include activities that seek the opinion of learners, with most of the concepts well explained.

While there has been a significant amount of work involving marketing education, it is unclear as to which demographic and psychographic characteristics of marketing majors drive their behavior toward academic performance (AP). The core premise of this study is that a set of students' demographic and psychographic characteristics underlie marketing majors' behavior toward academic learning, and this could be explained through the lens of self-determination theory. The study relied on quantitative data gleaned through structured questionnaires, from marketing majors in higher education in a developing country context. The findings affirm that student motives, thoughts and perspectives, expectations, and 'preparedness,' are highly significant situational factors that explain the variation in overall marketing students' AP. In addition, the income level of parents was significant in explaining AP. The authors envisage that the findings will help researchers to direct their studies toward experiential and emotional learning in other contexts, and thereby provide insights into other situational factors that predict marketing students' AP. Moreover, the findings highlight key situational factors that will help educators to adapt pedagogical practices in marketing education to enhance AP, in context.

Purpose: Graduate unemployment is widely reported not only in Ghana but also across the globe. The purpose of this study is to examine the relevance of the HND Commercial Art Programme, Graphic Design (CAPGD) option, to the graphic art industry and to determine the work readiness of graduates of HND CAPGD at the world of work. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative, evaluative case study research design was adopted to examine the perspectives of stakeholders of CAPGD. It was a multiple case study, which involved faculty members, graduates and industry-based supervisors. The study was conducted using in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to obtain in-depth interpretations and conclusions that reflected the perceptions of the stakeholders. Findings: The qualitative results indicate that the existing curriculum, based on the old polytechnic educational system, does not provide adequate practical approach to teaching and learning processes. Hence the majority of graduates lack competencies to meet industry's expectations. Research limitations/implications: The key limitation is lack of database on the HND Graphic Design graduates at Takoradi Technical University. This affected the data collection process as the HND Graphic Design graduate participants were not easily accessible, and, as such, much effort and risk were required to contact them. Considering the implication for education policy, the findings propose stakeholders' collaboration to ensure cross fertilization of ideas (Nwajiuba et al., 2020). Hence, a compilation of database could engender further study in this area and thus form the bases of a mixed method approach resulting in in-depth analysis for fresh insights into the study. Originality/value: The findings provide unique insights into work readiness of Commercial Art graduates, specifically in Ghana, as it seeks to bridge a gap in literature.

The descriptive survey design was used to find out the perception of pre-service teachers on teaching practice (on-campus) as an initial teacher preparation programme in University of Education, Winneba. A simple random sampling was used to select 226 pre-service teachers from the College of Technology Education, Kumasi. Data for the study were collected using questionnaire and were analysed through the use of both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings among others revealed that on-campus teaching practice equip entrants with requisite teaching knowledge, skills, experience, efficacy, professional development and support their learning. Lack of teaching aids, inadequate time, poor planning, lack of administrative support, and lack of proper orientation on the role of on-campus teaching practice were some of challenges identified. In spite of these challenges, the programme was rated to be good by the pre-service teachers. It was among others recommended that adequate time and material resources should be provided in addition to effective planning and orientation on the programme.

Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) plays a vital role in national development, such that many great nations make it an essential part of their policies and invest in its curriculum. Its role in national development warrants the need to conduct studies on it. Thus this study is on comparative analysis of vocational and technical education at the senior secondary school level in Nigeria and Ghana. Integrated research method was employed in the study involving Historical, Scientific and Comparative methods. It was found that the philosophy and objectives of VTE at the senior secondary school level are good in Nigeria and Ghana; implementation of the curriculum content is better in Ghana than in Nigeria; administration and funding of VTE are better in Ghana than in Nigeria. It was concluded that there is need for improvement of VTE more in Nigeria than Ghana and recommendations are made in that regard.

Resourcing inclusive education is increasingly becoming a critical issue for education systems and schools. It is identified that providing adequate and sustainable resources help to transform and optimise implementation of inclusive education. This paper thus examines system and school-level resources considered essential for practising inclusive early childhood education. The extant literature reveals successful inclusive education in early childhood settings requires multifaceted and integrated resource architecture, and the paper argues further that the availability of such resources 'smooth-drive' inclusive practice and is defined largely by 'effective' system and school leadership. In order to promote quality inclusive education and enhance the work of teachers, early childhood settings and schools need to be resourced adequately. Resourcing inclusive education should be considered an investment to develop and build the capacity of early childhood settings and to empower teachers, and overall to augment system and school-level leadership. The review has implications for IECE globally and for Ghana.

There are variable levels of ownership and usage of digital technologies among students in KNUST which can affect curricula implementation and integration. This study focused on ownership and usage of smartphones and tablets. A sample of 183 students was used for the study. Results showed that students owned various types and brands of mobile devices with smartphones recording the highest ownership levels. Android OS was most used on the devices identified. These devices were used mainly for "edutainment". Irregular internet speed, erratic power supply and high cost of internet data are challenges faced by students in their use of these digital devices.

There have been few studies on topic difficulty in the public administration curriculum of African universities. This is further problematized by non-existent literature on the relationships between gender, future career interest and country of study on student difficulty in the study of public administration. This is a gap in the public administration literature which this study attempts to fill. The work is significant to the extent that our understanding of 'where the shirt tights' regarding topics that students find difficult will guide teachers and other stakeholders in applying appropriate remedies. The purpose of the study is to find out (a) what topics in public administration students find difficult to learn; (b) if there are statistically significant relationship between gender and concept difficulty in the study of public administration in African universities; (c) if there are statistically significant relationship between student's career interest and concept difficulty in the study of public administration; and (d) if there are statistically significant relationship between country of study and concept difficulty in the study of public administration. Quantitative method was employed with sample (N = 650). The study reports bureaucracy, decentralization, public policy and politics as moderately difficult; significant relationship between gender and concept difficulty; and significant relationship between student future career interest and concept difficulty. We suggest curriculum development that would improve students' knowledge by laying more emphasis on the perceived difficult areas in the study of public administration, gender, and encourage early students' interest in public sector career choices.

The study is aimed at investigating 1) the level of computer self-efficacy among public senior high school (SHS) teachers in Ghana and 2) the functionality of teachers' age, gender, and computer experiences on their computer self-efficacy. Four hundred and Seven (407) SHS teachers were used for the study. The "Computer Self-Efficacy" (CSE) scale, developed by Teo and Koh (2010) was adapted and used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, "t" tests and univariate analyses were employed to analyse the data. The results showed that generally, SHS teachers neither disagree nor agree that they are computer self-efficacious; specifically they agree that they are self-efficacious in basic computer skills but not certain about their self-efficacy in web based skills and not self-efficacious in media related computer skills. Moreover, the results revealed that teachers' age, gender, and computer experiences have similar and dissimilar influences on their computer self-efficacy related to different computer application software. Furthermore, according to the results, teachers' gender and their computer experience have interaction effect on their computer self-efficacy whilst 1) teachers' gender and age and 2) teachers' age and computer experience have no statistically significant interaction effect on their computer self-efficacy. The study provides new and vital information for educational practitioners in Ghana. The findings suggest that expecting teachers in developing country such as Ghana to teach with technology still remains as a very challenging issue which requires important attention. In addition, the study provides new insights into explanation for contradictory research findings of the effect of (SHS) teachers' age, gender, and computer experience on their computer self-efficacy in the literature.

Research findings in the literature show that teachers' concern about change process is extremely personal and it influences the implementation of innovation. This study aimed at assessing information and communication technology teachers' stages of concern regarding the implementation of information and communication technology (ICT) curriculum in basic schools. It also examined the effects of teachers' personal factors or variables such as gender and teaching experience on their stages of concern towards the implementation of ICT curriculum. Modified Stages of Concerns Questionnaires (SoCQ) (Hall, George & Rutherford 1979) based on Concern Based Adoption Model (CBAM) were used to collect data from 346 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the study showed that teachers generally had their first and second high concerns at informational and consequence stages respectively and with low concern at awareness stage. Furthermore, statistically significant difference was found between gender and informational, management, consequence, collaboration and refocusing concerns. However, according to the results, teachers' stages of concerns were not related to their teaching experience.

Background: Childhood cancer is not a high priority in health care financing for many countries, including in Ghana. Delayed care seeking and treatment abandonment, often due to the financial burden of care seeking to families, are common reasons for a relatively low overall survival (OS) in low-and middle-income countries. In this study, we analyzed the cost-effectiveness of extending health insurance coverage to children with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in Ghana. Methods: We developed a Markov model in Microsoft Excel to estimate the costs and effects of BL treatment when National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was provided compared to the status quo where NHIS does not cover care for childhood cancer. The analysis was undertaken from the societal and health system (payer) perspective. Both costs (measured in $) and effects, measured using disability adjusted life years (DALYs), were discounted at a rate of 3%. The time horizon was a lifetime. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was done to assess uncertainty in the measurement of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). A budget impact analysis was undertaken from the perspective of the NHIS. Results: In the base-case analysis, the intervention (NHIS reimbursed treatment) was less costly than current practice ($8,302 vs $9,558). The intervention was also more effective with less DALYs per patient than the standard of care (17.6 vs 23.33). The ICER was -$219 per DALY averted from societal perspective and $113 per DALY averted from health system perspective. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that the intervention is likely to be both less costly and more effective than current practice in 100% of the 1,000 simulations undertaken. Conclusion: Providing health insurance coverage to children with BL is potentially cost-effective. The effectiveness and cost-savings relating to this strategy is driven by its positive impact on treatment initiation and retention. Based on this evidence, there has been a policy change where Ghana's NHIS has prioritized financing for cancer treatment in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]