Methodist College of Education

This study aimed at providing a theoretical background for the development of the Geometry and Measurement Strands in the New Ghanaian Standards-Based Curriculum. As such it should be of aid to inform the supervisory committee of the GhanaEducation Service, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), National Teacher Education Curriculum Framework (NTECF) and Ministry of Education, considering the Mathematics section of the current Ghana Curriculum Review project. This report concentrated on progressions in the two strands both within the area of higher-level thinking (what we will refer to as ‘pedagogy’) and within the area of content (‘knowledge’). While much has been written on the theoretical progressions, concerns showed that there is little to be found on progressions that could be of direct assistance to the facilitator (classroom teacher). The main emphasis of the theoretical writing on progressions in geometry tends to be on the increasing sophistication of overall ‘understanding’ of geometry (how do learners do geometry?); in contrast to the curriculum descriptions of geometry, it tends to focus much more on the content of knowledge/ability (what do learners do in geometry?). Findings also revealed that the ‘Count Me into Measurement program’ is the Learning Framework in Measurement, which aims to describe the stages learners progress through in developing an understanding of measurement. The Learning Framework describes three key stages: Identification of the attribute (direct comparison/partitioning/conservation); Informal measurement (counting units/relating number of units to quantity/comparison of measurements); and Unit structure (replicating a single unit/relating size of units to the number required). Learners are perceived as passing through the same three stages in their understanding of each of length, area, volume/capacity and mass, though not at the same time, as increasing the number of dimensions measured leads to the increasing complexity of the concept

The study aimed to determine how teaching students problem-solving techniques affected their academic problem-solving performance. A quasi-experimental research design was used for this study. The BIA Lamplighter College of Education's level 400 students make up the population for the 2022–2023 academic year. However, all upper primary students were chosen for the study because Problem-solving was a subject taught in that grade. There were three groups of 126 upper primary students in total. Intact groups were used in the study. The problem-solving technique was used in conjunction with the whole class, cooperative, and think-pair-share teaching methods while teaching Groups 1, 2, and 3 (G1, G2, and G3). Scores from the pre-and post-tests were used to gather information. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks, Kruskal-Wallis Test, both Wilcoxon W and Mann-Whitney U. The study's conclusions suggest that teaching through Problem-solving may enhance students' problem-solving abilities. The study also discovered that both students taught using whole-class teaching strategies and students led using cooperative learning and think pair teaching strategies benefit from the techniques. After using the "teaching through" problem-solving approach, there was no discernible difference in performance between male and female students.

Corruption has been one of the main challenges bedeviling the African society. Most artistic works in the form of writing and craft have dealt extensively with this canker of corruption. The poem ‘Ambassadors of Poverty’ is one of such works that touches on corruption in Africa. The present study seeks to examine the communicative implications underpinning the use of parallelism and semantic deviation in the poem. The study is situated within the linguistic and stylistic categories framework by Leech and Short (2007). The findings of the study identify forms of parallelism (noun phrases, prepositional phrases, simple and complex sentences) as well as forms of semantic deviation (metaphor, personification, irony, sarcasm, paradox, oxymoron and symbolism). The findings further unveil a preponderant use of varied shades of parallel structures to juxtapose the impoverished state of the ordinary African with the corrupt and luxurious lifestyle of African leaders while forms of semantic deviation are used to encode the unpatriotic attitudes of African leaders in figurative terms. The study concludes that literary works such as poems are potent instruments that are subtly used to expose and condemn the ills of society. The study has implications for research, theory and practice.

Any group of people or society that embraces religion has an experience or a concept of who they perceive to be the Center of the religion or who they consider to be the Supreme Being. The Akan of Ghana as an African people are religious and for that matter has an experience of the Supreme Being. This paper sought to share an Akan experience of God from the perspective of the Fante of Cape Coast (Oguaa). The synthetic and interpretative approaches were used in addition to collection of data from some elderly people, traditional priests and court historians from Oguaa. The indigenous people believe in the Supreme Being (God) as the Creator. They have three distinct names for God and these names show their understanding of who God is. These names are Onyame, Onyank?rp?n and ?domankoma. There are seventy-seven deities that are recognized and accepted in the Oguaa traditional area. These deities are believed to be children of God; the Supreme Being and He has assigned them to the people for protection and other assistance. Also, in spite of the recognition and acceptance of these deities, the indigenous religion of the people should not be classified as polytheistic. Their religion should be described as henotheistic.

The study sought to investigate technology use among Ghanaian senior high school students’ and to also uncover the factors influencing their technology use. Cross-Sectional survey design with mixed quantitative and qualitative data was gathered for the study. The population of the study comprised of all senior high school students’ in Ashanti region. A stratified sampling technique was used to select 200 students from both rural and urban districts in Ashanti region. The findings revealed that the extent to which SHS students’ use of technology in learning mathematics was very low. The Independent samples t-test revealed that students’ in the urban areas use more technology (Mean = 2.19, SD = 0.48) than students’ in the rural areas (Mean = 1.94, SD =0.54), students’ in a school with high technology resources available use more technology (Mean = 2.30, SD = 0.48) than students’ in a school with low technology resources available (Mean = 1.88, SD = 0.50) and students’ above the age of 20 years use more technology (Mean = 2.61, SD = 0.59) than students’ within the age of 18 – 20 years (Mean = 2.03, SD = 0.56) and students’ within the age of 15 – 17 years (Mean = 2.08, SD = 0.44). The analysis revealed that the differences in the mean technology use between students’ in the rural and urban areas, students’ in schools with high technology resources available and students’ in schools with low technology resources available and students’ above 20 years and students below 20 years were statistically significance (F = 12.22, p = 0.001), (F = 35.91, p = 0.00), and (F = 4.96, p = 0.01) respectively.

Technical education is a major boost to national development because it helps in job creation. This makes technical universities important institutions. The upgrade of polytechnics to technical universities in Ghana has been an important milestone in the enhancement of technical and vocational education. Due to this upgrade, technical universities which were hitherto polytechnics had to compose new anthems to indicate and reflect their new status as universities. The present study focuses on how stylistically significant devices are used to construe the goals of technical and vocational education in anthems of Ghanaian technical universities. The study adopts the descriptive qualitative methodological approach which is theoretically framed by the linguistic and stylistic categories theory postulated by Leech and Short (2007). Anthems of six out of the ten technical universities in Ghana were homogenously sampled using the purposive sampling technique. The sampled anthems which served as data for the study were manually coded using the consensual coding strategy. The study identified the use of dominant stylistic devices such as repetition, parallelism, metaphor, personification and allusion in the sampled anthems. Repetition was used to emphasise the need for institutional solidarity. Parallelism was used to foreground the aims of the universities as well as create rhythmic effects to enhance the musicality in the anthems. Geographical and biblical allusions were used to establish religious and cultural hegemonies while personification and metaphor were also used to foreground the relevance and uniqueness of the institutions. The findings of the study have implications for research and practice. The study concludes that anthems of Ghanaian technical universities are not just construed as institutional symbols but also as mediums for marketing technical education. 
 
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This study investigated the duration in school and academic performance. This was a comparative study of the 3 and 4-year education duration in Ghana. The purpose of the study was to determine which of the two durations of SHS (3-year or 4-year) had positive influence on students' academic performance, in the three selected schools. The quantitative method was used for the study. A population of 5836 students and 149 teachers who taught both the 3 and 4-year SHS students and 3 headmasters were drawn from three schools in Central Region via census, purposive sampling techniques respectively. The documentary checklist and structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. The raw WASSCE scores of 5836 students and the questionnaire data were analysed quantitatively with SPSS. One research question and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Mean and standard deviations, frequencies, independent and paired sample t-test, and one-way were used to analyse the data. The major findings of the study were that the duration of schooling has a positive effect on students' academic performance and the 4-year cohorts of students performed better than the 3-year cohorts. The MOE and GES should consider the 4-year duration as a better suited duration for SHS education in Ghana and should therefore be implemented again.

This study assessed the effectiveness of performance appraisal system in the Ghana Education Service. The study specifically examined the nature of performance appraisal in GES, teachers’ perception about the performance appraisal system, and teachers’ satisfaction with the performance system. Considering the objective of the study, the researcher adopted a descriptive survey design. The mixed research approach was adopted in addition to the research design. Teachers in basic schools in Birim Central Directorate constitute the population of the study. The study sampled 184 respondents for the study. Both questionnaire and interview guide were used to solicit data from respondents. Research instruments were personally administered by the researcher. The quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), while the qualitative data were analysed manually. The study finds out the effectiveness of performance appraisal in GES and the result showed that GES has a performance appraisal system, and performance appraisal is mostly done more than thrice a year. The study also indicated that GES has several methods of appraising employees. Also, it was generally revealed that respondents perceived performance appraisal system positively and that they are satisfied with the performance appraisal system. The study recommends that appraisal should be carried out by experts so that it will serve its purpose. The study highlighted that there is a need for a more formal method to be adopted so that the overall purpose of performance appraisal can be attained. It is again recommended that there is a need for appraisers to adequately discuss every final appraisal report with appraisees. Finally, the study recommends that employees’ appraisal report should be sent to the education office for an effective and efficient decision on training and development program.

It is gratifying to note that a vast majority of Ghanaians especially the rural dwellers relate more easily to traditional authorities than even government agencies. In the event of any mishap or emergency, chief palaces are the first point of call. Chiefs and for that matter, the chieftaincy institution becomes a mobilizing force to gather people and resources to address any mishap emanating from an emergency situation. Chiefs by virtue of their social status in the political and social spectrum are the custodians of culture and traditions. Chieftaincy institution goes back at least five hundred years and pre-dated European contact and remained the basis of traditional governance in Ghana and for that matter Chamba Traditional Area. The study focused on the historical developments of chieftaincy institutions and the role that religion plays on the chieftaincy institution in the Chamba Traditional Area of Ghana. Ghanaian chieftaincy now has family units with family heads at the base of the chieftaincy triangle and the [Overlords or Kings] at the apex. Chieftaincy in Ghana has therefore emerged from the social fabric of the land. This means that unlike chieftaincy set-ups in other parts of Africa, the Ghanaian chieftaincy is nobody’s creation and therefore cannot be easily destroyed.

The study looked at how Form Two (2) science students' academic achievement in biology was affected by their biology practical. It was an action research study. For the study, Form Two (2) science students from Queen of Peace Senior High School were sampled. 42 students were surveyed using a Likert scale questionnaire, in addition to an interview and pre- and post-intervention test items. Descriptive statistics and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) were employed in the study to examine the findings. The study found that a lack of sufficient Science Resource Center equipment to support teaching and learning is to blame for students' poor performance in biology. Despite this, the school's biology teachers lacked proper training and there was no biology lab. Therefore, as a temporary fix to the issue, the study advised schools lacking the science resource centre to send students to schools with the amenities. Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Association of Science Teachers (GAST) should regularly hold in-service training workshops and courses to keep science teachers' understanding on how to plan practical lessons current. According to the report, Ghana's government should focus on providing the Science Resource Center facilities to all of the nation's schools.

The traditional doctrine of the Catholic Church describes the priest as Teacher of the Word, Minister of the Sacraments and Leader of the Christian community. His functions are therefore tripartite in nature, consisting respectively of teaching, sanctification and governance. The priesthood is God’s gift for the Church. It is one of the seven sacraments of the Church which not only confers grace but power to preside over the holy sacrifice of the Eucharist and to forgive sins. In this study, we employ qualitative and quantitative methods of research with the use of primary and secondary sources for data collection. The study uses descriptive research design in a social survey, with the Catholic Ecclesiastical Provinces of Accra, Cape Coast and Kumasi as the case study. Non-probability (quota and purposive) sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 450 respondents from the three ecclesiastical provinces with each province assigned a quota of 150. Out of the 450, 300 were retrieved and carefully analysed manually and descriptively. The views of other 30 seminary formators from the three provincial seminaries were solicited through one-on-one interviews The study reveals the complex nature and difficulties associated with vocations to the priesthood and religious life in Africa, a continent saturated unfortunately with poverty, marital issues, tribalism/ethnocentrism, corruption and other numerous vices, but at the same time a continent full of hope for African Christianity.

The study focused on investigating teaching and learning materials teachers provide to enhance participation of students with special educational needs in teaching and learning at Pokuase in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The study employed the descriptive survey design. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the sample size of 112 respondents. Descriptive statistical method was used to analyse questionnaire data for the study. Results from the study revealed that, teachers provide teaching and learning materials of all kinds during teaching and learning. However, some of these materials do not cater for the unique needs of all learners especially those with special educational needs. Instructional materials such as tape recorders and text in braille were not provided, computers were not adapted to enhance easy access for pupils with special educational needs. The study recommended that teachers provide materials to include tape recorders, text in Braille, materials that are bold with good colour contrast and adapted computers for easy access especially to those with special educational needs . Purpose of the study The study sought to investigate teaching and learning materials teachers provide to enhance learning among pupils especially those with special educational needs in inclusive classrooms. Keywords: provisions, special educational needs, teaching and learning materials, assistive technology. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-4-01 Publication date: February 29 th 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between school facilities and the learning environment in Oda Senior High School in the Birim Central Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The intent of this research was to determine how school facilities affect the students’ learning environment and academic performance.A descriptive survey research design was adapted where a total sample of 20 students, 10 teachers and 1 main headmaster and 3 assistant headmasters were selected for the study. The data was collected using questionnaires for the students and teachers as well as interview guides for teachers and head teachers and finally observational guide was used by the researcher. This study used descriptive statistics to analyze the data. The results of the data analysis findings indicated that quality and educational adequacy of educational facilities were significantly associated with student learning environment and academic performance. Based on these findings, it was recommended that The Ministry of Education should provide adequate funding for school facilities. This would ensure their effectiveness in terms of acquiring facilities flexibly and responding to schools’ demands quickly. In addition, in order to handle school facilities effectively, school heads and teachers need to be proactive. For example, they should exhibit maintenance culture. Keywords: School facilities, Learning environment, Academic performance. DOI : 10.7176/JEP/10-26-02 Publication date :September 30 th 2019

The purpose of the study was to find out the challenges of visually impaired students in the use of virtual learning platforms at Wesley College of Education. The research design adopted was case study. The sample size was 4 where participants were selected using the purposive sampling technique. Semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data. The study revealed that the use of virtual platforms allows students with visual impairment learn at their own pace, reduce fear of talking in the classroom, have access to open learning. However, virtual learning does not cater for individual learning styles, clarify and explain concepts to meet the unique needs of students, inadequate materials to access the platforms, interfaces of web pages inaccessible, lack of braille version of online instructions to compensate for students who had problem virtually, and poor internet access. It was recommended that tutors provide braille version of their virtual instructions, vary their mode of delivery to meet the learning styles of learners virtually, adapt interfaces of virtual platforms for easy access by students with visual impairment.

The study assessed food hygiene practices of food vendors in some selected basic schools in Birim Central Municipality in the Eastern Region-Ghana. A case study approach was used for this research. Questionnaire and an interview guide were the two main instruments used in the data collection. The study was conducted in Birim Central Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana and the large group was the basic schools. Random sampling technique was used to select basic 15 schools for the study. The list of names of all schools in the Municipality was collected from the Ghana Education Service (GES) office. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, frequencies, ranges and prevalence rates of the study variables. It was found out that most of the vendors (92.3%) had low level of education but this did not affect their food hygiene practices. Also, majority of the vendors (91.39%) were found not to have storage facilities for uncooked food items. It was recommended that in-service training on food safety should be organized for food vendors on regular bases to improve on their food safety skills by their supervisors.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of parental involvement on pre-tertiary learners’ academic performance and development in some selected pre-tertiary schools in the Ada East District of Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The study adopted the sequential explanatory mixed method approach. That is, quantitative data were initially gathered through a 3-point Likert Scale response set structured questionnaire followed by a qualitative interview data. The study made use of fifty (50) respondents who were randomly and judgmentally sampled. Both questionnaire and interview guide were developed to collect data on two formulated research questions after which they were descriptively and thematically analysed respectively. The study revealed that learners’ academic development and performance move along with parents’ financial commitment and other socioeconomic related characteristics, parents’ level of training, education and other sociocultural related characteristics as well as parents’ relationship and communication with teachers, school community and the community outside. It was concluded therefore that both socioeconomic and sociocultural statuses of parents affect academic development and performance of learners in pre-tertiary schools to a large extent. Conclusion was also drawn on how parents’ relationship and communication with the school community, teachers and the community outside contribute to pre-tertiary school learners’ development and performance. The study strongly recommended full parental, community and stakeholders’ commitment in all academic related activities of learners.

The linguistic analysis of sermons has in recent times attracted some attention in linguistic research. Notwithstanding, studies on language use in sermons have predominantly examined the style of individual preachers but with limited attention to linguistic resources on deontic modality. To fill this gap, the present study examines the linguistic resources employed in expressing deontic modality in selected Ghanaian Pente-Charismatic sermons. It is theoretically underpinned by the Register Theory propounded by Halliday (1989) and Biber and Conrad (2009). The study is a qualitative case study that purposively sampled twenty Pente-Charismatic sermons delivered by three Ghanaian preachers namely Apostle General Sam Korankye-Ankrah; Bishop Charles Agyin-Asare and Bishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams. The findings reveal that modal verbs are used to make declarations and admonish listeners on various Christian principles, lexical verbs are used dominantly in the form of action verbs to construe preachers as powerful people who instruct congregants on their Christian obligations while auxiliary verbs are used to support the main verbs to emphasise various actions in the sermons. Phrasal verbs, adverbs, and clauses on the other hand are insignificantly used to enable the preachers to convey their messages in plain language that would be understood by their audience. This paper extends the scholarship on register analysis of sermonic discourse by focusing attention on Pente-Charismatic sermons, a context underexplored in the literature. It also illustrates the communicative implications that underpin the use of various forms of deontic modality in sermonic discourse. The study therefore has implications for the register theory and studies on language use in sermonic discourse.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0056/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

The purpose of this study was to examine chemistry teachers' teaching and learning strategies in double indicator titration in Senior High Schools in Ghana. Action research design using a quantitative approach was used for the study. Purposive and simple random sampling procedures were employed to select one hundred and seventy-five (175) participants (teachers and students) for the study. The classroom observational checklist and questionnaire were the instruments used to collect data in the study. Descriptive statistics tools (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) were used to analyse the quantitative data. The study revealed that Chemistry teachers in the Kwaebibirim and Denkyembuo Districts of the Eastern Region used the lecture method in teaching double indicator titration lessons instead of practical activities and this had negative effects on their academic performance. The study also indicated that the effective model that can be used to improve teaching and learning of double indicator titration is the developed practical teaching model (DEPTEM) as compared to the teachers’ method. It is recommended that in-service training should be organized for chemistry teachers who were already in the field of work to use more of the developed practical model (DEPTEM) in relation to the lecture method. It is also recommended that chemistry teachers should use teaching methods that would allow chemistry students to participate and manipulate equipment/materials using their five senses and other skills instead of teaching in abstract or allowing them to remain less active in their class.

Researchers in mathematics education have established the distinction between mathematical understanding and mathematical thinking and that has resulted on the call for comprehensive assessment practices that focuses on both content and process. While it has been established that teacher knowledge is vital in teaching basic school pupils, less is known about colleges of education students’ proficiency levels at point of exit from the maiden B.Ed program in colleges of education in Ghana. This study reports how mathematics proficiency is partially used as mathematics assessment towards colleges of education students’ strategic competency and adaptive reasoning during supported teaching in schools. Mixed methods involving descriptive and explanatory designs were employed to gather quantitative and qualitative data for analysis. Results revealed that pre-service teachers are approaching proficiency whereby exhibiting more knowledge in strategic competency than adaptive reasoning in the mathematics content they will be teaching. Factors including program structure, sustained lesson reflections with mentors and quality of teaching experiences at partner schools aided in developing pre-service teachers’ proficiency. Although males attained higher proficiency scores than females, there was no statistically significant difference in proficiency levels between males and females. Recommendations suggest to further studies to explore the relationship between pre-service teachers’ mathematics proficiency and their mathematics self-efficacy.

This study investigates factors that influence the choice of assistive technology of students with visual impairment at Ghana National Inclusive Basic Schools. The study discussed the available assistive technologies in the school, the preference of a particular assistive technology to others and challenges students faced in the use of assistive technology. The study is grounded on the human function model. The case study designed was adopted for the study. The sample size is 10 where participants were selected through the purposive technique. The main instrument used for data collection is interview. Results were analysed and discussed based on the key themes raised in the research questions. The study revealed that students’ choice of assistive technologies hinged on the availability of technology, parents’ ability to buy such technology, knowledge from rehabilitation centres and limited knowledge of students and teachers in operating them. The study recommended the provision of training for teachers and students, supply of assistive technology to schools, rehabilitation homes should expose students to newer technologies which will transcend to their use in classrooms. Assistive technology should match the unique needs of students. Article visualizations: