Administrative challenges facing basic school heads in the Atronie circuit of the Sunyani Municipal Education Directorate

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out the administrative challenges facing public Basic school head teachers in the Atronie circuit of the Sunyani Municipality. The design of the study was a descriptive survey design. Quantitative research approach was used for the study. The population for the study was made up of all basic school head teachers in the Atronie circuit of the Sunyani Municipality numbering 50 head teachers. Census sampling technique was used to select all the 50 respondents for the study. Questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. The data were analyzed using percentages and frequencies with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. The study concluded that indiscipline and interpersonal conflict affected school administration. Moreover, teacher’s inability to perform tasks on time and teachers’ unauthorized absenteeism also affected school administration. Moreover, alcohol consumption and dictatorial tendencies on the part of teachers affected school administration. The challenges head teachers faced in students management were unsafe school environment, teachers’ unwillingness to help students’ supervision, lack of adequately qualified guidance and counseling personnel in the school, withdrawal of the cane as a tool to control indiscipline in the schools, negative attitude towards schooling and education in general, indiscipline truancy and poor attitude of learners affected school administration. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education through Ghana Education Service (GES) should offer continuous in- service training to the head teachers on pupil management to keep them up-to date with skills that will assist them to run their schools effectively.