Exploring quality education in public basic schools in the Sekyere Kumawu District of Ashanti Region

Abstract

The study explored quality education in public basic schools. A descriptive mixed research design using sequential explanatory strategy was employed to investigate all aspects and facts about quality education in public basic school level. The target population for this study was all heads and teachers in public basic schools in the Sekyere Kumawu District. Twenty-two (22) public basic schools in the study area were selected with a sample size of one hundred and eighty-seven (187) made up of 22 heads and 165 basic school teachers. Simple random, purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used to sample participants for the study. The researcher used questionnaire and interview as main instruments to collect field data which were analyzed using statistical tools such as chi-square, frequencies and percentages. The findings of the study were that a considerable number of teachers did not possess the prerequisite educational qualifications to improve upon quality delivery of education in the study district. It further showed that most schools did not have adequate teachers to promote quality education in the district. Again, most teachers did not plan their lessons based on the approved instructional materials due to the fact that the state of instructional materials in the schools was very poor. Teachers also did not get the opportunity to attend INSET regularly to get them abreast with current educational practices. Finally, large class size, low teacher motivation and poor supervision were revealed as challenges that hinder the delivery of quality education in the district. It was recommended that District Assembly should expand the sponsorship packages for teacher-trainees. Again, teachers should be supported by Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service to upgrade themselves through distance education and sandwich programmes. Besides, government should give tax waiver to local publishing industries to enable them to produce textbooks for public basic schools.