The status of decentralization of educational administration in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese district in the central region of Ghana

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out the status of decentralization of educational administration in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District in the Central Region of Ghana. The sample for the study was made up of 245 respondents selected from the District Education Office, 50 schools and 50 School Management Committees (SMCs). This consisted of 146 teachers, 48 head teachers, 47 SMC chairpersons and 4 officers of the district education office. The purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the sample for the study. Five research questions were constructed to guide the study. The researcher used three sets of questionnaire, one each for head teachers, teachers and chairpersons of the school management committees. An interview guide was designed in order to gather information and views of officers at the district education office. The tools that were used for the analysis were frequencies and percentages. The study revealed that there is deconcentration of functions to the school level. However, devolution of functions to the school level leaves much to be desired because majority of SMCs are not performing their functions. A number of challenges faced by school administrators were unearthed by the researcher and these include the inadequate funds to run the school, increase workload and the late supply of logistics. Finally, the study revealed that the attitudes of teachers and head teachers towards the decentralization policy were to a very large extent positive. A number of recommendation were made among which is that the Ghana Education Service and District Assemblies should create the necessary conditions that will allow schools to raise funds from local sources.