ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Management of Challenges by Low Fee Private Schools in the Ekumfi District

This study explored how Low-Fee Private Schools (LFPS) in Ekumfi District manage challenges. A qualitative, multiple case study design was adopted, focusing on two LFPS selected based on their longevity and operational level up to Junior High School (JHS). A purposive sampling approach was used to select 11 participants across the schools and one participant from the District Education Office. Participants included proprietors, headteachers, teachers, parents, and a district official, all chosen for their relevance in providing detailed insights into the schools' operations. Interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed thematically. The study identified financial challenges as the most significant issue faced by LFPS, largely due to non-payment of fees by parents and inadequate cash flow. Other challenges included teacher attrition, infrastructure deficits, and student dropouts. Strategies used by LFPS to address these challenges included alternative-fee payment systems (daily, weekly, and monthly), seeking support from NGOs, savings initiatives, finding alternative sources of revenue, and engaging parents to reduce student dropouts. Stakeholder support was provided by teachers, parents through the P.A, alumni, and government bodies like the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the National School Inspectorate Authority (NASIA). However, findings showed that stakeholders contributed little in terms of financial and infrastructural support. The study concluded that although LFPS made progress in managing challenges, some issues persisted. Therefore, LFPS leaders must innovate while maintaining and expanding stakeholder involvement to effectively manage and overcome these challenges.

Source: UCC
Exploring the perception of junior high school teachers and students on topics in the integrated science syllabus

This study explored students’ and teachers’ perceptions of integrated science topics in the JHS (1-3)integrated science syllabus. It compared the perception of students’ with that of their teachers’ with the hope of ascertaining whether the perceptions do exist.The study also explore if gender and school location had any bearing on the performance of the students in relation to integrated science topics. The survey method was employed where questionnaires was administered to 300 Form Three (3) Junior High School students and their 30 Integrated science teachers. Students’ perception of the integrated science syllabus topics questionnaires and teachers’ perception of integrated science syllabus questionnaires were administered to the participants. Sample was drawn out of 56 public Junior High Schools in Ketu-North District of Volta Region where schools that had treated or completed topics in the integrated science syllabus were those selected for the study.The study showed that the JHS 3 students’ perceived 8 out of the 43 integrated science topics to be relatively difficult to learn. Further, Integrated science teachers perceived 8 out of 43 topics to be relatively difficult to teach by about 20%. It is therefore recommended among others that, in-service training and workshops should be organized for teachers regularly by educational authorities so that teachers can teach concept such as basic electronics, chemical compound, acids, base and salt, electrical energy among others with ease.

Source: UCC
Exploring the policy implementation paradox: using the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (fCUBE) policy in Ghana as an exemplar

This paper uses the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (fCUBE) policy implementation in Ghana as an exemplar to explore the apparent disjuncture between policy intentions in theory and outcomes of implementation tasks in practice. Through the critical discourse analysis of a range of policy documents complemented by the analysis of interviews with Ghanaian education officials, the paper investigates the extent to which the ‘free’, ‘compulsory’, ‘universal’ and ‘basic education’ components claimed in the fCUBE policy title are reflected in the implementation process. Owing to its commitment to enhancing the educational opportunities and outcomes of the educationally disadvantaged, the fCUBE policy is viewed as a ‘rights-based policy’ deeply rooted in social democratic values. However, the advent of neo-liberal ideological rhetoric of ‘skills for the world of work’ has triggered the neutralisation of these progressive ideals. This, the paper argues, has led to a significant discursive shift in policy direction and language of implementing the policy.

Source: UCC
Exploring the Potential of the Will, Skill, Tool Model in Ghana: Predicting Prospective and Practicing Teachers’ Use of Technology

Research has shown that will (positive attitudes), skill (technology competency), and tool (access to technology tools) are all essential ingredients for a teacher to effectively integrate information technology into classroom practices. This study focuses on the will, skill and tool as essential measures for the predictability of technology integration, reported by the study participants and measured by stages of adoption of teachers in Ghana. Attempts are made to explore the extent to which these parameters differ among the teachers and also influence technology integration. Furthermore, the parameters are proposed for use in modelling the process of technology integration for these teachers. Well validated instruments spanning the areas of attitudes, competencies, access and technology integration proficiencies were used to collect data from 120 mathematics prospective teachers and 60 practicing mathematics teachers from Ghana. The data was analyzed using regression analysis. The results indicated that lack of teacher anxiety was the most important dimension of attitudes, and that skill is the strongest predictor of classroom integration of technology for the teachers. Significant differences existed between practicing and prospective teachers’ computer anxieties, competencies, and access levels.

Source: UCC
Exploring the Preparedness of Ghanaians for Retirement and Ageing: A Case Study of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Area

Introduction; There is evidence of the inability of older people in Nigeria, Ghana and other developing countries to sustain themselves through savings, assets or pensions. This situation highlights the minimal benefit of pensions, savings or assets as income sources for older people; old age very often brings poverty and disability. Methodology: A qualitative interpretive design informed the study. The study area was categorized into three distinct ecological areas namely urban, periurban and rural areas. Twenty interviews and three focus group discussions with 68 elderly persons were conducted in ten sub-districts in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. The forty-eight elderly individuals were put into groups of 8, 20 and 20 for the focus group discussions. Data was thematically analysed. Results: Four major themes and subthemes were identified to reflect the pertinent issue of exploring and defining the preparedness of people for their retirement and ageing. There was evidence that preparing for old age is not an active precedent for the people of Cape Coast and they still believe in the traditional system of caring where it is the sole responsibility of the family to care for its own aged members. Conclusion: It is evident that formal care is not practiced in Ghana and that the aged therefore find the idea bewildering. They want to experience this care, but existing norms expect the family members to single-handedly provide care for their aged

Source: UCC
Exploring the Preparedness of Ghanaians for Retirement and Ageing: A Case Study of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Area

There is evidence of the inability of older people in Nigeria, Ghana and other developing countries to sustain themselves through savings, assets or pensions. This situation highlights the minimal benefit of pensions, savings or assets as income sources for older people; old age very often brings poverty and disability. Methodology: A qualitative interpretive design informed the study. The study area was categorized into three distinct ecological areas namely urban, periurban and rural areas. Twenty interviews and three focus group discussions with 68 elderly persons were conducted in ten sub-districts in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. The forty-eight elderly individuals were put into groups of 8, 20 and 20 for the focus group discussions. Data was thematically analysed. Results: Four major themes and subthemes were identified to reflect the pertinent issue of exploring and defining the preparedness of people for their retirement and ageing. There was evidence that preparing for old age is not an active precedent for the people of Cape Coast and they still believe in the traditional system of caring where it is the sole responsibility of the family to care for its own aged members. Conclusion: It is evident that formal care is not practiced in Ghana and that the aged therefore find the idea bewildering. They want to experience this care, but existing norms expect the family members to single-handedly provide care for their aged.

Source: UCC
Exploring the Professional Learning of Tutors Through School-based Professional Development: the Case of Holy Child College of Education, Takoradi, Ghana

This research project explored what tutors at the Holy Child College of Education, Takoradi, Ghana, learn and how they professionally develop through school-based professional development (SBPD). The research design is a case study, which employed a qualitative approach in data collection, through semi-structured interview. The sample involved 20 participants; 16 tutors, the Principal of the College, the Vice Principal and two Coordinators of the SBPD, using a purposive sampling technique. Four interview guides were developed for the four categories of participants. Drawing on the qualitative data from the interviews, data were analysed using the thematic approach. The major findings of the study revealed that SBPD programmes at HCCOE, Takoradi, Ghana, has benefitted the tutors immensely and contributed to the learning outcomes of the student teachers through the use of student-centred learning strategies, experiential learning, innovative learning and creative learning approaches. However, the tutors at the College, were constrained by inadequate and irregular contact hours in ICT skills-acquisition, top-down SBPD initiatives, workload, and inadequate ICT facilities. It is therefore recommended that management of HCCOE and NCTE provide adequate ICT support and use more constructivist models in the SBPD programmes to improve the tutors’ professional learning, and enhance student teachers’ learning outcomes

Source: UCC
Exploring The Reading Of John 9:1-41 In Doctor Jesus Prayer Camp And Ministry International, Ghana

The subject of this research is „Exploring the Reading of John 9:1-41 in Doctor Jesus Prayer Camp and Ministry International, Ghana. With the background of how biblical interpretation influences the lives of people or Christians, the nature of John‟s Gospel, the nature of prayer camps in Ghana, and how the blind man‟s narrative has been conceptualized and appropriated by the Doctor Jesus Prayer Camp and Ministry International Church. Given that, the Doctor Jesus Prayer Camp and Ministry International church live the Bible, thus, their activities and programs undergirded by biblical text, this work, sought to assess the interpretation of this church through literal and historical criticism, using the Tri-Polar exegetical model by Jonathan A. Draper to see how they read and live the text. The work firstly looked at the nature of churches in Ghana, to situate the church among the denominational group it fits into. Also, the interpretation of John 9 in the context of the focused church was also done to see the understanding the text has for them. Further, the setup of the church was also considered to see who they are. The study, however, found that their interpretation is symptomatic and esoteric. This is because, their interpretation leaves meanings latent, repressed, and unique to them. This allows them to assign meanings to every biblical text, thus their interpretation of John 9 differs from what the narrator seeks to communicate to his audience. The study has shown that their way of interpretation skips important hermeneutical details. This makes them strange, and different in the Christian community concerning the way they have understood the blind man's narrative in their lives.

Source: UCC
Exploring the socio-cultural interpretations of breast cancer and the coping strategies of patients at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Breast cancer is considered as a global public health problem. Many lives are lost to it because of late diagnosis, where treatment of the disease is almost impossible. Factors such as socio-cultural interpretations of the disease have been attributed to this delay. This study therefore sought to examine some socio cultural interpretations of breast cancer and the coping strategies adopted by patients in Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Qualitative research design informed the orientation of the study. In-depth interviews were conducted to elicit information from twenty-five participants who were involved in the study. The data were validated through observation. The social constructionism theory and the ABC-X model informed the study. The study revealed that the interpretations linked with the disease did not only determine the time patients reported to the hospital but also permeated their entire health seeking behaviours. Those who believed the illness was a spiritual condition were much more inclined to seek spiritual help from their deities and vice versa. In addition, patients either absconding or continuing orthodox treatment was influenced by their socio demographic characteristics. Furthermore, the extent of appearance concerns of patients were dependent on the stage of the disease, age and marital status of patients. It was discovered that patients adopted In-group support as a means of coping with the illness. It is recommended, among other things, that hospitals should spearhead the formation of informal breast cancer advisor groups to help educate and support patients.

Source: UCC
Exploring The Use Of New Media In The Study Of Communicative Skills In Off-Classroom Spaces: A Case Study

A huge body of literature exists on the application of new media technologies in enhancing instructional delivery. However, not much has been written on how students deploy new media and the gratifications they derive from them, especially in off-classroom spaces. The purpose of this study was to explore how first-year students of Cape Coast Technical University use new media tools in studying Communicative Skills outside the classroom. The qualitative case study purposively sampled 30 first-year students of CCTU, using a semi-structured interview guide. Drawing on the theory of uses and gratifications, the study uncovered six main benefits of CCTU’s students’ use of new media in the study of Communicative Skills in off-classroom settings. These were cognition of concepts, communication, access to resources, collaboration and participation in learning, and handling of assignments and exercises. The study also found that misuse of technology, poor network infrastructure, resistance to change and poor feedback were the main challenges the students encountered in their use of new media. The study concluded that new media tools provide self-regulated learning opportunities for students to study Communicative Skills. Recommendations in relation to media use and their implications for teaching instructional communication, in general, and Communicative Skills, in particular, are given.

Source: UCC
Exploring the use of Paratransit Services for School Journeys among Basic School Children in the Greater Kumasi Area

How children perceive safety, convenience and other factors that influence the choice of mode for journey to school may be significantly different from an adult perspective. Understanding how children with different life experiences come to terms with day-to-day context and constraints in the journey to school has become an important topic that deserve critical attention. Using a pragmatic paradigm mainly through survey, focus group discussion (FGD), and observation, this study sought out to explore the use of paratransit services for school journeys among Basic School Children in Greater Kumasi Area. The study employed the simple random technique and sampled 123 pupil and as well used convenience sampling to sample an average of 12 pupil for three FGD‘s. The study revealed that parents are key players in the choice of paratransit modes for school journeys which may be influenced by their socioeconomic factors and the perception about these modes. The study also identified condition of mode, infrastructure, and driver behaviour as the major challenges faced in using paratransit modes for school journeys. Though road safety education is seen as a global tool for reducing road traffic crashes, findings from this study further revealed that only two subjects (Citizenship Education and Our World Our People) taught in basic school had content on road safety. In view of this, it is recommended that policymakers including Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), and National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) should include children in planning their activities to better understand their travel needs. The study further recommends that Ghana Education Service (GES) should include road safety education at all levels in basic schools to reduce the number of road crashes

Source: UCC
Exploring the views of leadership at Takoradi Technical University on change readiness after their upgrade

Change is an integral part of everyday life. The environment is dynamic and not static, for which reason individuals and institutions must learn to adapt to these changes as and when they occur. For institutions, most change initiatives fail to materialise largely because of poor leadership, if leadership is forthcoming, institutions are bound to chalk great successes after change initiatives. The study used the case study approach to explore the leadership’s change readiness at Technical Universities after they were upgraded from Polytechnics. The study collected qualitative data from eight participants judgementally sampled from the Takoradi Technical University. The thematic analysis approach was used in analysing conversational interviews and textual data. Four main themes namely, preparations made, roles of leadership, challenges of the Takoradi Technical University and the leadership needs, emerged from the analysis to feed the overarching theme of change readiness of technical universities. The study concludes that the leadership of Takoradi Technical University is ready and has put the necessary tools in place to get the organisational members for the change. The results emanating from this study expand the understanding of change and change readiness and also contribute to existing knowledge on change readiness. The study recommends that the NCTE should evaluate the upgraded institutions to fine tune the new system. Also the institution should offer commercial services as a means of generating income. Finally, the leadership should liaise with industry to know and tailor curriculum to fit industrial wants.

Source: UCC
Exploring the Views of Students and School Management on Bullying in Ghanaian Senior High Schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis

The study explored the views of students and school management on the incidence of bullying and its effects on students‘ academic performance as well as their social life in some selected SHSs in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Guided by the descriptive cross-sectional survey research design, the study employed both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to collect data from 390 students and 10 teachers in management positions in five selected SHSs. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 5 schools from the Metropolis while stratified and simple random sampling technique was used to select the student respondents from Form 1, Form 2 and Form 3. Also, purposive sampling technique was used to select the staff participants for the interviews. The study found kicking, slapping, pushing and kneeling as common acts of bullying in the schools. Furthermore, the study established that bullying occurs several times in a week in most SHS. It was concluded from the students‘ point of view that bullying did not have any impact on their academic performance and their social life as well. However, teachers were of the view that bullying wasted students‘ time, made students timid and also feel intimidated during their stay in the school which in turn affect their academic performance. Finally, the study noted that management of SHSs in the Cape Coast Metropolis had laid down rules and regulations to deter students from indulging in any form of bullying. This notwithstanding, it is recommended that the Ghana Education Service should formulate an overarching antibullying policy to form a base for management of the SHS to formulate their unique anti-bullying policies. Education on the concept of bullying should be intensified to create awareness.

Source: UCC
Exploring Values Implicit in Ghanaian Senior High School Mathematics Textbooks

Mathematics as a field of study is mostly seen to be value and culture free. This assertion has however been refuted since values are contained in mathematics as a discipline and in its pedagogy but are often taught implicitly. The purpose of this research was to explore values implicit in best-selling Ghanaian SHS 1 core mathematics textbooks, considering the fact that not many research studies have gone into valuing in Mathematics. Teachers’ awareness level of values implicit in Mathematics as a discipline and its pedagogy were also explored. Four best-selling Ghanaian SHS 1 core mathematics textbooks as well as four Ghanaian SHS 1 core mathematics teachers were sampled purposively for the study. The data on values implicit in the four best-selling SHS 1 core mathematics textbooks were analysed using frequency distributions and percentages. Data collected from four SHS 1 Core Mathematics teachers considered for the study were also analysed. Findings from the data on the four best-selling Ghanaian SHS 1 Core Mathematics textbooks using checklist revealed that Objectism, Progress and Openness values were emphasised while Formalistic view, Theoretical knowledge, Instrumental learning, Accessibility, and Evaluation were also emphasised for Mathematical values and Mathematics Educational values respectively. How these values are conveyed were also presented. Teachers interviewed on the other hand were seen to have limited knowledge of values in mathematics as a discipline and in its pedagogies. Based on the findings, it is recommended that more research in Ghana should be centered on values in mathematics education. Workshops should be provided to mathematics educators to give them insight on values in mathematics.

Source: UCC
Exponential Stability and Instability in Multiple Finite Delay Volterra Integro-Differential Equations

In this thesis, sufficient conditions that guarantee the exponential stability and also instability of the zero solution of a certain class of Volterra integro-differential equations with multiple finite delays are obtained.Two Lyapunov functionals are constructed in the thesis. These Lyapunov functionals are used to obtain in- equalities that the solutions of the Volterra integro-differential equations satisfy. These inequalities are used to deduce exponential stability results for thezero solution oftheVolterraintegro-differential equations,as well as a criteria for instability ofthezerosolutionoftheVolterraintegro-differential equations.

Source: UCC