An assessment of the use of telephones in the administrative functions of Sunyani municipality directorate of the Ghana Education Service

Abstract

The study was on an assessment of the use of telephones for administrative functions in the Sunyani Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education service in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. The 119 respondents who provided primary data comprised 10 headmasters, 60 teachers, 35 students, 5 Circuit Supervisors, 5 Ghana Education Service Support staff, representatives of the Brong Ahafo Regional and Sunyani Municipal Directors of Education as well as the Brong Ahafo Regional and Sunyani Municipal Telephonists of the Ghana Education Service. Apart from the Regional and Municipal Directors, who provided qualitative data through an In-Depth Interview Guide, the rest of the data were gathered through questionnaires administration. It was ascertained from the data collected that telephones were rarely used in the Sunyani Municipal Education Directorate due to high telephone bills, frequent breakdown of telephone lines and equipment and perceived negative health impact of using telephones for communication. Also, observations from the study indicated that letters, rather than modem communication media such as electronic mails, faxes and telephones remain popular with the respondents. The study recommended that telephones and other Information Communication Technology facilities should be installed by the government, Parent Teacher Associations and corporate organisations in all educational institutions in the Sunyani Municipality to improve communication processes and enhance educational administration.