MAKING SCHOOLS EFFECTIVE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN JOMORO MUNICIPALITY (GHANA): WHAT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL HEADTEACHERS DO.

Hinneh Kusi, Samuel Nyameyefor Meah, Kweku Esia-Donkor — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated school effectiveness practices of headteachers in the Jomoro Municipality. A sequential explanatory mixed-method design, underpinned by pragmatism, was employed in the study. Census frame was used to involve all 52 headteachers in the quantitative phase of the study, whilst maximal variation was employed to select 10 headteachers for the interviews. A closed-ended questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide were used to gather data for the quantitative and qualitative phases of the study respectively. The quantitative data was analysed using mean and standard deviation, whilst the qualitative data was used to support the discussion when necessary. The study revealed that the strategic planning and leadership practices of the headteachers included encouraging staff self-evaluation and developing improvement plans to guide schools' activities. It also emerged that the instructional leadership practices of the headteachers included organising regular meetings to review instructional progress and regular visitation of classrooms to observe teaching and learning. The study concluded that the instructional leadership roles of the headteachers contributed immensely to improving the professional practices of teachers and overall school improvement efforts. However, most of the headteachers hardly organise continuous professional development programmes on instructional leadership due to inadequate funding. The study, therefore, recommends, among others, that the Jomoro Municipal Education Directorate should reinforce instructional leadership practices and policies in the schools for improvement to occur. The Directorate could also supplement the government's effort by writing grant proposals to funding organisations, both within and outside Ghana, to raise funds for the organisation of in-service training programmes for teachers.

THE BANNING OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE CREATION OF THE DESIRED SOCIETY IN MODERN WORLD: THE RAGING CONTROVERSIES

Jean Claude Zigama, Patrick Acleus Kafu — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines the longstanding practice of school discipline, a fundamental aspect of educational management that has evolved over the centuries. It also explores the controversies surrounding the decision to out-law corporal punishment and its potential impact on the development of a disciplined and cohesive society. It also investigates the implications of this shift for the modern educational system. School discipline has traditionally been seen as a means to control students' behaviour while fostering the development of desirable character traits. The discipline is believed to prepare learners for their future roles in society. Teachers, who are primarily responsible for creating and enforcing discipline policies, have employed a variety of disciplinary approaches, including corporal and psychological forms. Among these, corporal punishment has been the most widely used, often ranging from mild to severe measures, and is viewed by some as a necessary means to maintain order. However, corporal punishment is frequently associated with potential harm, including physical injury, and is sometimes labelled as violent. In response to these concerns, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) recommended in 1991 the abolition of corporal punishment in schools. This recommendation has sparked significant debate among key stakeholders in education, many of whom argue that banning corporal punishment is inappropriate. The significance of this paper lies in its contribution to the ongoing discourse on how school discipline shapes not only individual student development but also the broader societal fabric, fostering a stable, progressive, and well-disciplined society.

Journal of Education Management & Leadership (JEML)

MAKING SCHOOLS EFFECTIVE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN JOMORO MUNICIPALITY (GHANA): WHAT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL HEADTEACHERS DO.

THE BANNING OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE CREATION OF THE DESIRED SOCIETY IN MODERN WORLD: THE RAGING CONTROVERSIES