The effectiveness of headteachers' training programmes in basic school resources management in Wenchi district of the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana

Abstract

The study examined the effectiveness and efficiency of headteachers' training programmes in the Wenchi District of the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. The research problem was as a result of mismanagement of basic school resources and declining pupil performance between 1997 and 2000 academic years. A cross-sectional study design was used to gather information from two groups of respondents (40 headteachers and 11 GES officers). Purposive sampling method was used to select the respondents for the study. Two different questionnaires were respectively administered to the headteachers and GES officers. The data was analysed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics using the SPSS and Excel programmes. The chi-square test of goodness of fit was used to test for significance between the responses at an alpha level of 0.5. The findings suggest that the extent to which the headteachers were effective and efficient after the training progammes was 80%. However, low motivation of headteachers and teachers, material resource problems and the high rate (51.7%) of untrained teachers, among others, were contributory factors hindering the attainment of 100% effectiveness. The adoption of a Democratic Participatory Model (DPM) for management effectiveness and efficiency is recommended if headteachers are to succeed in becoming fully effective and can salvage their schools from numerous challenges. Also, the Government of Ghana, through the GESIMOE, must find ways of motivating headteachers and teachers since the lives of pupils who are the future leaders are in their hands. The training programmes should be organised regularly as this will serve as an avenue to improve headteacher effectiveness and school performance.