Abstract:
Competitions, misunderstandings and mistrust are likely to occur when
people meet as a group which could ultimately result in conflict. Since in the
school which is a miniature society, people meet as a group, conflict is likely to
occur. In this regard, the researcher sought to examine the extent to which
headmasters' management behaviours in conflict management contribute to or
reduce conflict in Junior High Schools in Kwahu North District.
The population for the study comprises teachers in the 42 Junior High
Schools in the district, numbering 151. The sample size is 100, comprising 86
males and 14 females. The instruments used were questionnaire and interview
guide. The questionnaire was pre-tested at St. Michael Junior High School. The
revised questionnaire was used for the target population and the responses were
analysed using frequencies and percentages.
The study identified the following as some of the possible causes of
conflict in the schools: (i) lack of flow of communication, (ii) competition among
teachers (iii) dependence on one party by the heads. Lateral conflict was
identified to be more common than subordinate conflict. There was low level of
conflict occurrence in the schools. Some preventive techniques used by heads
were staff meeting and team work. Compromise and arbitration were adopted by
heads in conflict resolution.
On the basis of the findings, the following recommendations are made:
that heads should increase the rate at which they organise staff meetings in order
to uproot conflicts before they occur. The use of compromise and arbitration
should be maintained in order to lower the level of conflict occurrence in the
schools in the district.
