Challenges in choosing senior high school programmes: Perspectives of teachers/counsellors and pupils in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the challenges junior high school pupils in La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality face in choosing programmes in their transition to senior high schools. The explanatory sequential design of the mixed approach was employed for the study. The population consisted of all the final year junior high school pupils and teachers/counsellors handling the final year pupils in the JHS in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality. Through a systematic sampling procedure and census approach, 368 pupils and 117 teachers/counsellors were sampled respectively for the quantitative phase of the study. Further, 12 pupils and eight teachers/counsellors were conveniently selected for the qualitative phase of the study. Questionnaire and interview guide were used for data collection. The study revealed that fathers, mothers, siblings, finances and orientation at home were the major challenges JHS pupils faced from the home when selecting their SHS programme. Challenges which were from the schools included teacher interference, peer distractions, and academic performance in school. Based on the findings, it was recommended that parents and guardians should be enlightened by school heads on the relevance of pupils pursuing programmes in line with their interest rather than the parents imposing programmes on pupils to pursue at the SHS level.