Investigating challenges facing community-based senior secondary schools in the Sefwi Wiawso district of Ghana: a case study of Asawinso and Akontombra community-based senior secondary schools

Abstract

The 1987 education reforms gave prominence to the establishment of community–based senior secondary schools in Ghana, and the Sefewi Wiawso District had its share of the institutions which were sited in the Asawinso and Akontombra localities. However, the common trend country wide is that, these schools are generally known to be facing difficulties in various forms that have adversely affected their performance capacity, growth and development, Anumuah–Mensah, Sarkodie, Kedem (2002). The development prospects of the schools in Sefwi Wiawo District are equally affected by the negative trend. It is against this background that this study was initiated in order to investigate and explore the challenges facing the schools. The Asawinso SS and Akontombra SS were schools selected for a case study. The research design employed in the investigation was based on qualitative research methods. The instruments employed were interviews – formal and informal; questionnaires and observation. The data analysis followed the qualitative case study method. The study concluded that the schools suffer deprivation in various forms including low patronage and lack of effective participation by the community members, and are also poorly equiped in terms of personnel and infrastructure as a result of which they are unable to deliver as expected. Relatively, Asawinso CBSS was found to be performing better than its counterpart Akontombra CBSS. This situation is the result of the fact that Asawinso relatively enjoys better facilities and conditions, which indicates that given the suitable and appropriate development climate, the schools will be in a position to deliver as expected.