Offinso College of Education

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is an important urinary tract infection (UTI) that has been associated with both complicated and uncomplicated disease conditions. The global emergence of multiple drug-resistant (MDR) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) is of public health concern as the resistance limits the current treatment options. The objective of this study was to analyze the antibiotic-resistant patterns among the uropathogenic E. coli isolates at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) hospital between 2013 and 2015 as baseline data to understand the current antibiotic resistance situation within UCC and its environs. A retrospective cross-sectional study of bacteria isolates at UCC hospital from January 2013 to December 2015 were analyzed. A standard biochemical and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using Kirby-Bauer NCCLs modified disc diffusion technique. The network of interaction between pathogenic isolates and antibiotic resistance was performed using Cytoscape software. Statistical significance was tested using ANOVA and one-sample Wilcoxon test. The overall E. coli prevalence was 15.76% (32/203); females had the highest infection of 17.33% (26/150) compared to male subjects who had 11.32% (6/53) out of all the pathogenic infections. The E. coli prevalence among the age categories were 2/21 (9.52%), 27/154 (17.53%) and 4/21 (19.05%) among ≤20 years, 21-40 years and 41-60 years respectively. The isolated resistant pathogens exhibited different antibiotic resistance patterns. An interaction network of nodes connecting to other nodes indicating positive correlations between the pathogens and antibiotic resistance was established. Escherichia coli, Citrobacter spp, Klebsiella spp among other isolated pathogens formed higher centrality in the network of interaction with antibiotic resistance. The individual E. coli isolates showed a significant difference in the mean ± SD (95% CI) pattern of antibiotic resistance, 2.409±1.205 (1.828-2.990), χ2 = 36.68, p<0.0001. In conclusion, the study reports the interaction of E. coli isolates at UCC hospital and its antibiotic-resistant status between 2013 and 2015. This data forms the baseline information for assessing the current antibiotic status in UCC and its environs.

The disclosure of COVID – 19 saw an increasing popularity of Information technology. Most of the educational institutions has resort to online teaching and learning. The purpose of the study was intended to find out pre-service teachers’ perception of online teaching and learning during the COVID – 19 era. In this study, a quantitative descriptive survey research design was adopted. The research instrument that was used to collect the data was questionnaire. The items on the instrument that is the questionnaire were self-developed by the researcher for this study. The non-probability sampling technique namely purposive sampling was employed to select the respondents from Offinso College of Education in the Ashanti Region. A total of 94 pre-service teachers participated in the study. Out of this total, 49 females and 45 males, were pre-service teachers’ trainees on a 4-year Bed Primary Education Programme pursuing General Chemistry as one of their core courses.&#x0D; The results from the study showed that most of the pre-service teachers’ had an idea of the units taught for the semester. Pre-service teachers’ expressed great need for lessons to be delivered using video and audio as it makes lesson real and also see their tutor even though it required much data to access video. The pre-service teachers’ expressed great interest in tutors using trial questions and quiz in assessing them and responds from assessment should be submitted through what’s up platform. With all the challenges pre-service teachers’ encountered during online teaching and learning they appreciated the tutor-learner relationship and interactions as cordial, collaborative and done in a form of discussion. It is therefore recommended that there should be stable network connectivity and subside on data bundle for learners.

In Ghana and the rest of the world, Covid-19 has negatively impacted economic growth with the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized households who depend on informal employment and businesses to fend for their children feeling the great impact. The pandemic has severely compromised their ability to finance school-related expenditures such as school kits, meals, and learning materials. With the adoption of remote teaching by the Government to facilitate distance learning and online education delivered through the internet, television, and radios, students from poor backgrounds face a great challenge as they can't access these mediums of learning and this leads to inequality in access and quality of education. Hence, it is necessary to look through these challenges to ensure there is continuous access to the provision of quality, inclusive and equitable education during and after the pandemic. Effective application of the suggested interventions by stakeholders and education managers will ensure uninterrupted learning in educational institutions in the future. This is the main idea to be tackled in this article. Since this is a theoretical review, it will depend on a review of secondary data material to examine and discuss the challenges and mitigations for COVID-19 in the Ghanaian education sector, in line with the learners. The theoretical review is guided by the Classical Liberal Theory of Equal Opportunities advocated by Sherman and Wood and the theory of justice and fairness advanced by Rawls John.

The issue of leadership styles used by school heads and the academic performance of students has recently attracted the attention of the general public and people are exerting energies into research to find its courses and effects. Nkoranza-North district is selected as a result of the fact that the researcher works there and the districts also have two senior high schools for the study. Primarily, the study was to find out the courses and impact of leadership styles on teaching and learning outcomes in the Nkoranza-North district. The study covered a sample size of sixty (60) people comprises of Headmasters, selected teachers and selected students of the two. The researcher employed the descriptive method, while interview schedule and questionnaire were used togather the information. Frequencyand percentage were used to analyse the data. The study also looks at the various leadership styles employed by leaders some of which are Autocratic, Democratic and Laissez-faire. The findings of the study are discussed, conclusion draw and recommendations made.

This investigation aimed to investigate the emotional reactions and burnout experienced by instructors who taught wards having some exceptional needs and students who are placed in the inclusive institutions located in the Offinso municipality in Offinso municipality: the moderating effects played by coping methods. For the purpose of providing a full analysis of the research problem, the investigation took a descriptive survey technique and collected quantitative data. The population of Offinso Municipality was 1155, and a sample of 219 instructors was taken from that population using several sampling approaches, including simple random sampling, proportionate stratified sampling, and purposive sampling. The replies of the respondents were gathered through the use of a questionnaire. The investigation was successful in achieving three goals. In addition, the educators displayed unsatisfactory feelings or emotional sentiments in their diverse classes. Once more, the findings of the investigation demonstrated educators in inclusive environments as resorting to incorrect coping techniques in order to deal with their feelings of burnout. One of the recommendations was that educators of pre-service instructors should guide their learners through various adaption tactics so that they can cultivate happy feelings before they graduate.

Introduction Sexual harassment is a component of gender-based discrimination that indicates unequal power relations and affects students' psychological and physical well-being and academic achievement. This study assessed students' experiences of sexual harassment at the Offinso College of Education. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study incorporated a whole population sampling of second and third-year female students to respond to a pre-tested questionnaire uploaded on Google Forms. The data were vetted for appropriateness, cleaned in Microsoft Excel, and transferred to IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences for analysis into descriptive statistics and chi-square tests of associations. Results The study indicated that women (66%) had previously had sex before admission into college and perceived that they were at risk of sexual harassment (43.0%). It was statistically significant that the student's level of education was associated with the experience of being sexually harassed (χ2 = 10.950, p-value <0.00) and the perception that sexual harassment was a problem among students (χ2 = 13.376, p-value <0.01). The nature of the female students' marital relationships was statistically significant (χ2 = 11.209, p-value <0.02) to the perception of sexual harassment as a problem in the college. Conclusion Female students must have adequate education on the sexual harassment policy of the institution and measures put in place to identify and provide appropriate sanctions to issues of sexual harassment at the college education level.

This study was about peer attachment and learning styles being moderated by a sense of belonging among students during the COVID-19 era. Using an analytical cross-sectional survey design, 284 final-year undergraduates were selected through stratified-proportionate and convenient sampling procedures. Data was gathered from the respondents using Learning Preference Scale (Owens &amp;amp; Straton, 1980), Adolescent Friendship Attachment Scale (Wilkinson, 2008) and Psychological Sense of School Membership (Goodenow, 1993). The data was analysed using descriptive (Frequencies and Percentages) and inferential statistics (Multivariate Multiple Regression, Simple Moderation with Hayes Process Macro and Multivariate Analysis of Variance).The study revealed that most students engaged in less peer attachment, felt less sense of belonging while secure attachment predicted the individual learning style of students. Furthermore, secure attachment and anxious attachments predicted the cooperative learning style of students while anxious attachment and avoidant attachment predicted the competitive learning style of students. Further, a sense of belonging moderated not peer attachment and learning styles of students, while no significant differences were found between male and female students in terms of peer attachment, learning styles, and sense of belonging. Therefore, it was recommended that students should practice individual learning styles most often but could collaborate with a few colleagues in some academic situations during this period of COVID-19. This is to help foster closeness and belongingness among the students.

Despite the need to report incidents of sexual violence, there is a high rate of unreported cases in almost every community worldwide. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine the extent of reporting of sexual violence against women with disabilities as well as the barriers limiting their ability to report. The study was an exploratory research which adopted a qualitative method of data collection. In total, 41 participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling methods. The study found that almost all women with disabilities did not report sexual violence perpetrated against them to any legal authority. Even those who reported either informed a family member or trusted friend. Barriers such as poverty, lack of bond with family and friends and communication difficulties, limited the ability of victims to report abuse they have suffered. The condition of women with disabilities will make it impossible for them to report abuses committed against them. It is important for reward packages to be made available to women with disabilities who boldly report abuse committed against them. Also, there is the need for awareness campaigns to urge families and communities to accept women with disabilities and provide them with their needs. This will protect them from people who will trade assistance for sexual favours.

This study sought to unveil possible problems that confront mentees in their professional development. A structured questionnaire and a semi–structured interview were employed for data collection. The population included 152 teacher-Mentees with sample size of 76 selected through multi-stage sampling technique. The data collected from the questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive statistics with the aid of frequencies and percentages. The interview data on the other hand was analyzed through the thematic approach. It was revealed that Mentees who go through the mentorship programme face various challenges in relation to attitudes of mentors, some teachers as well as community related challenges However, unpreparedness of some teachers to work collaboratively with mentees and absenteeism of mentors were the major challenges confronting mentees in their mentoring programme. The study recommended that Authorities of Colleges of Education should put in place a training programme for their mentors on their roles in the training of the mentees. Such training will equip mentors on their roles in the training of the mentees as well as reduce conflict between mentors and mentees. Article visualizations:

Knowledge of the content alone is no guarantee for effective teaching and learning, there is the need for teachers to demonstrate high level of technological and pedagogical power. The study examined the technological pedagogical content knowledge of Social Studies teachers’ in Junior High Schools in Aowin municipality in the Western North Region of Ghana. The descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population for the study included all Social Studies teachers in the public Junior High Schools in the Aowin Municipality. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the Seventy-four (74) Junior High Schools and Seventy-four (74) the Social Studies teachers for the study. The main instrument for data collection was questionnaire. The study revealed that, teachers have adequate content knowledge to teach Social Studies but there are doubts as to whether their knowledge is current. The study also concluded that, teachers were not confident about their technological, pedagogical and content knowledge in Social Studies and this resulted in their negative attitude towards the integration of technology in classroom activities. It is recommended that, the Ghana Education Service should organize In-Service Training and refresher courses for teachers to keep them current and up-to-date their content knowledge in Social Studies. It is also recommended that, teachers should adopt positive attitudes towards learning and using technology in their day-to-day activities.

The Performing Arts play a pivotal role in the traditional and contemporary life of the Ghanaian. Among its numerous importance and benefits are academic development, career development, transmission and preservation of cultural values, and promotion of tourism. In spite of some knowledge that has been created about these benefits and importance, the significance of the Performing Arts in the Ghanaian society is downplayed. The aim of this paper is to re-emphasise the role as well as the benefits and importance of the Performing Arts in Ghana and its implication for formal education. Article visualizations:

BACKGROUND: Non-prescription use of Tramadol is increasingly becoming common among vulnerable populations. This study examines the factors associated with non-prescription use of Tramadol among youth in urban informal settlements in the Asokore Mampong Municipality, Ghana. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from Tramadol users aged 15 to 35 years living in urban informal settlements were analyzed. Non-prescription use of Tramadol was assessed using the item "Have you ever used Tramadol for any reason without a prescription from a healthcare professional?". The responses were dichotomized as yes = 1, otherwise = 0. Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated the factors associated with non-prescription use of Tramadol. RESULTS: Data on 200 Tramadol users were obtained. Family/friends (52.3%), were the main source of knowledge on Tramadol. Energy boost (43%) was the most cited reason for Tramadol use. Approximately 52% indicated a continuing non-prescription use of Tramadol for energy boost. Multivariable logistic regressions showed that those who lived alone (OR = 6.34: 95% CI = 2.03-19.82), migrants (OR = 3.97, 95% CI = 1.31-12.05) and the unemployed (OR = 3.57, 95% CI = 1.02-12.58) were significantly more likely to report non-prescription use of Tramadol. CONCLUSIONS: Non-prescription use of Tramadol is a threat to the youth in urban informal settlements in the Asokore Mampong Municipality. Interventions such as strict drug monitoring and regulation, drug use education, strict parental supervision, and sustainable jobs may contribute to controlling non-prescription use of Tramadol.

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.

The study sought to find out the role of computer technology in music education in Colleges of Education in the Volta Region of Ghana. It aimed at surveying the use of computer technology for teaching music and exploring the instructional prospects for computer technology usage in music in Colleges of Education. The study employed Rogers’ Diffusion Innovation theory and descriptive survey research method. Data was collected from the respondents using questionnaire, interview, and observation. The study revealed that even though about 90% of the music tutors have good academic qualification and over five years teaching experience, lack of competence in handling computer technology in teaching music among some music tutors and incoherent ICT initiatives hindered proper application of computer technology in the field of music education. It is however envisaged that increasing access and coherent computer technology initiatives will be paramount for the teaching of music in the Colleges of Education. Keywords: COE DOI : 10.7176/JEP/11-3-15 Publication date: January 31 st 2020

At Atebubu College of Education, the study attempted to determine the impacts of peer tutoring on gender and senior High school background courses of pre-service teachers in physics. To achieve the purpose of the study an action research design was used and a total number of 140 (78 males and 62 females) who are offering primary Education program were purposively selected. The major research tools were accomplishment tests, which were used to collect quantitative data from pre-service teachers. Using the independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA to analyse the quantitative data. It was found that the male students’ performance in Physics (M = 8.81, SD = 0.927) does not significantly differ from that of the female students’ (M = 8.65, SD = 0.925) as a result of the peer tutoring method adopted for the study. The results of the one-way ANOVA show that there are no differences in the mean score of the pre-service teachers’ performance in Physics and their senior High School course background. It is therefore recommended among other things that the principals and head of science departments of Colleges of Education in Ghana should organise workshops, seminars and in-service training on how to utilize peer tutoring method effectively in teaching scientific concepts to pre-service teachers they training.

The study employed a quasi- experimental design of a single group pre-test post-test. The purpose of the study was to assess the locomotor and object control skill development levels of 6-8-year-old basic school pupils in Kwahu Afram Plains South district of Ghana The target population for the study comprised all 6-8 years old primary school pupils in Tease in Kwahu Afram Plains in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Convenient and stratified sampling techniques were used to select 57 pupils made up of thirty-seven (37) boys and twenty (20) girls. The instrument used for this study was Test of Gross Motor development (TGMD-2). Descriptive frequencies were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that pupils demonstrated high level of perfection with reference to their locomotor skills in the various physical activities with most responses on their skill execution mostly ranked between often and always. The study also indicated that pupils were able to perform locomotor skill activities well. The study also concluded that pupils were not really equipped with motor skill and were not able to execute motor skill activities correctly during physical activities with responses on motor skill mostly ranked between rarely and often. It is recommended that lower and upper primary school teachers in Kwahu Afram Plains South district should be equipped with the prerequisite skills to enable them to teach motor skills development effectively. It is also recommended that more qualified physical education personnel should be sent to the basic level in Kwahu Afram Plains South district to teach physical education since motor development and skill acquisition develop the habit of the active lifestyle of individuals.

The study adopted a qualitative approach with the case study to ascertain the pedagogical environment and infographics format(s) used by Visual Art teachers in the teaching and learning of Visual Art subjects in Senior High Schools. Respondents for the study were sampled purposively and conveniently from KNUST Senior High School, Kumasi, Ghana. Findings from the study indicated the non-availability of animated infographics as an instructional tool in the Visual Art classroom and the inefficiency of instructional delivery with only textbooks. For better comprehension and achievement of instructional objectives, the study recommended animated infographics as an alternative pedagogical strategy to the conventional way of instruction in the Visual Art classroom.

The study investigated formative assessment conceptions and practices among the teachers of social studies in the Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region of Ghana. The research was undertaken with the view of finding answers and making suggestions that could help improve the formative assessment practices specifically in social studies. A census was conducted in the eighty-four (84) public Junior High Schools in the Techiman Municipality in the Bono East Region. All the ninety-five (95) Social Studies teachers in the public Junior High Schools in the Municipality were selected for the study. A 50-item questionnaire including 2 open-ended questions was developed for the teachers. The data collected were analysed by using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The study revealed that, the teachers had correct conception of formative assessment and saw its relevance in the classroom, however, their assessment practices were not formative enough. The teachers’ assessment practices were influenced by external factors. It is recommended that pressures such as demand for continuous assessment marks to grade students ought to be reduced to allow the teachers practice assessment as professionals.

The world is witnessing a pharmaceutical opioid crisis, and in Africa's version, the nonmedical use of Tramadol is prevalent in vulnerable populations. However, data on the factors promoting nonmedical use of Tramadol in slums is generally lacking. The study explored the factors that promote the nonmedical use of Tramadol among urban slum-dwelling youth in the Asokore Mampong Municipality, Ghana. This qualitative study recruited 20 nonmedical Tramadol users from Asawase and Aboabo in the Asokore Mampong Municipality as participants. Data were gathered through face-to-face, in-depth interviews via the snowball sampling technique. Data were analyzed using themes and direct quotations. The study observed that Tramadol was used in quantities exceeding what is medically acceptable many times daily and in combination with other substances with psychoactive properties. Tramadol use was informed by its efficacy in providing physical (reducing tiredness, pain relief, and sexual enhancement) and psychological (mood enhancement) benefits. Easy accessibility and affordability of Tramadol, coupled with lax measures in checking substance use, contribute to its nonmedical use with other substances. The extent of abuse of Tramadol in the study setting needs urgent attention. Educational programs on substance use, counseling interventions, and effective drug monitoring and surveillance are required to curb the menace.

The study was to explore the factors that account for low enrolments in senior high schools in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that account for low enrolments in the community-based senior high school in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purpose of the study was to investigate socio-economic factors, school related factors, geographical factors and individual characteristics that influence enrolments, participation, retention, attendance, progression and dropout in community-based senior high schools in Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purposive and quota sampling were used to select a sample size of 120 respondent make up of 10 heads, 10 Districts Directors of Education, 10 PTA chairmen and 90 parents of sampled schools. The instruments used to collect data from the respondents were the questionnaire for heads, structured interview guide for parents. PTA Chairmen and the District Directors of GES and observation guide on school building and furniture. The reliability co-efficient of the study was 0.82. The co-efficient is high enough and hence the items were deemed reliable for the study. Data were analysed by the use of frequencies, percentages and apparent cohort method. The finding of the study indicated that most of the sampled senior high schools do not have school bus to convey day students to and from schools. The sample senior high schools do not have workshops for all programmes, classrooms and standard science laboratories and science equipment to enhance academic work.