Environmental prints and literacy development of children of Sissala East Municipality in Upper West Region

Abstract

This study explored environmental prints and literacy development on children of Sissala East Municipality in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The study identified the types and designs of environmental prints that have the greatest potential to impact on the literacy development of children. The study employed the quantitative method of design to collect and analyse data in one single study. The study was undertaken in 168 schools with 230 respondents made up of teachers sampled from the Municipality. A questionnaire and observation checklist were developed and used to collect data for the study. The study found that most private and public early childhood teachers in the Sissala East had some basic knowledge and understanding of environmental prints. The findings indicated that teachers in the Municipality combine professional methods and techniques as well as literate rich environment suitable for children age and ability to ensure literacy development. It was also realised that most teachers encountered challenges including their inadequate professional knowledge, age differences of children, special needs problems of children, and inadequate prints in some activities of teaching. Findings indicated that environmental prints had great influence on children literacy development in the areas of digital literacy. The resaecrher recommended that the The Municipal Education Directorate of Sissala East should make it a point to equip the teachers with skills concerning the use of environmental prints to improve the teachers' understanding and the use of environmental prints. Teachers should also be sensitized on regular basis on the importance of their environmental prints about its practice that falls under construction, administration and scoring.