The declining popularity of history as a subject in the senior high schools in the Central region, Ghana

Abstract

History as an academic discipline in the curriculum provides valuable information and perspectives embedded within a powerful analytical model, which can be especially useful in an inconsistent and rapidly changing world. Although History plays an important role in the schools’ curriculum, it is seen as the least patronized subjects among the Arts in recent times. This study sought to find out the declining popularity of History as a subject in senior high schools in the Central Region of Ghana. The descriptive survey research design was used in this study. The stratified, purposive, proportionate and simple random sampling techniques were used in selecting the sample. In all, 285 students from 20 schools were used. Questionnaire was the main tool used to collect data for the study. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means and the standard deviations. Results of the study revealed that students believe History provides a sense of cultural identity and broadens their intellect by enabling them acquire a lot of ideas about their society and country as a whole. They also indicated that there are more job prospects in studying Government, Geography and Economics than History. It also revealed that the wrong perception of the general public towards the teaching and learning of History and the inadequate teaching and learning materials in History are some of the causes for the decline in the popularity of the subject. It was recommended that teacher educators should help trainees develop a positive mindset and favourable attitude towards the teaching and learning of History since their transfer into the classroom has implications for learners.