Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to explore the implementation of the free senior high
school policy in some selected schools in the Western North region of Ghana. The
objectives of the study were; to find out how headmasters implement free senior high
policy; to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of the free senior high
policy; to explore challenges associated with the implementation of the free senior
high school policy; to find out strategies that could be adopted by headmasters of
senior high schools to manage the challenges of the implementation of the free senior
high school policy. The research adopted a qualitative approach underpinned by
interpretive philosophical assumptions using the case study approach. The sample size
for the study was five participants using census and purposive techniques. The data
were collected using unstructured interview guide. The data were analysed manually
using thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed that headmasters adopted
the top-down (fidelity), mutual adaptation, and enactment approaches in the
implementation. It was found out that the heads were faced with challenges, such as
infrastructural issues, supply of expired goods, and delay in disbursement of funds. It
was also found out that headmasters are less burdened, It was recommended that
government should decentralise the regulations to the district level so that at the
district level, some appropriate measures could be taken to address any possible
challenges that will threaten the successful implementation of the policy, Government
should not relent in its effort to supply all the necessary items that the schools will
need to ensure effective teaching and learning.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of Educational Leadership, Faculty of Education and
Communication Science, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University
of Education, Winneba, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for award of the
Master of Philosophy (Educational Leadership) degree