Browsing by Author "Dorleku, Abella"

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    Teaching and Learning in Border Towns: A Study in some Junior High Schools along The Ghana-Togo Border
    (2013-07-25) Dorleku, Abella
    This study aimed to inquire into teaching and learning in Junior High Schools located along the Ghana – Togo border, to analyse teaching methods and strategies the teachers adopt, the influence of the teaching methods and strategies on the performance of students and key factors that affect the general performance of students in those schools. Through the use of questionnaire, interview, and observation, the relevant data were collected from a convenient sample of 365 students, 12 teachers, and four headteachers purposely selected from four schools located along the Ghana-Togo border in the Volta Region. This qualitative study revealed that teachers in the sampled schools use a variety of teaching methods and strategies identified including drill, question and answer, group projects, discussion, individualised instruction, demonstration, school garden system, homework, writing, classroom visual aids, songs, and reading aloud. The effects of some of the teaching methods and strategies have negative impacts on the students. The factors that affect teaching and learning and academic performance were identified in the study as: language, differences in the students’ educational background, teacher inexperience, poor school environment, poor classroom management strategies, lack of cordial relationship between teachers and students, poor school infrastructure, lack of teaching and learning materials, student indiscipline, and lack of models for female students. To improve the situation in the schools, the study recommends in-service training for teachers in these schools on current teaching methods that can enhance successful learning, assessment techniques and learner-centred teaching, involvement of communities and other education stakeholders in the provision of teaching facilities in schools for implementing appropriate teaching pedagogies to enhance student learning and academic performance in the schools.