School improvement practices of basic school headteachers in Akwatia Denkyembour District Ghana

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of musical arts in early childhood education within selected schools in the Ga Central Municipality. The exploratory case study design was adopted for this study. The study employed a purposive sampling technique. The sample for the study was 15 early childhood teachers. The instruments used for the collection of data was semi-structured interview guides. The data from the study was analysed thematically. The study revealed that early childhood educators in the Ga Central Municipality perceive that musical arts boost learner engagement, promote holistic development, and strengthen a sense of identity through cultural songs. Also, using songs and rhymes to reinforce concepts, incorporating movement and dance to enhance engagement, and using storytelling through music to captivate children’s attention are some of the strategies adopted in integrating musical arts into teaching in early childhood centres in the Ga Central Municipality. Again, it was revealed that findings from the study revealed that the use of musical arts in early childhood education significantly enhances social, emotional, intellectual, and motor development by fostering cooperation, emotional expression, cognitive skills, and physical coordination. The findings from the study further revealed that inadequate musical resources, limited access to instruments and materials, insufficient training and professional development opportunities, and a lack of administrative and parental support as some of the challeges to the use of musical arts in teaching. It is therefore recommended that the Ga Central Municipal Education Directorate and other relevant stakeholders should support teachers and encourage them by providing them musical resources as well as professional development to equip them to use varied musical techniques such as songs, rhymes, movement, storytelling, and call-and-response to make lessons interactive, engaging, and developmentally appropriate