misconceptions about teaching in ghana

Educ. However, disability is not mentioned in the four learning outcomes of the equity and inclusivity of the cross-cutting pillar and their targets. Traditional beliefs and knowledge base about epilepsy among university students in Ghana. - Improve education and training needs of teachers. For example, ICF combines both the social and the medical models of disability. The Inclusive Policy also sets out to facilitate and enable education structures, systems, and methodologies to meet the needs of all children; and it is a good attempt to promote an inclusive society. It seems everyone has an opinion about teachers and their profession these days and most of them arent teachers. Examples of the disabling environment are societal structures, values, culture, environmental constructs (Geffen, 2013), inadequate access to healthcare, transportation, physical and institutional barriers (Barnes and Mercer, 2005; Naami, 2014). She is the 2013 recipient of the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award and the 2013 Boston Red Sox Most Valuable Educator Award. The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. Copyright 2023 Naami and Mort. As Neubauer and Calame (2017) argues, the SDGs ought to be recognized as a unique opportunity to strengthen and intensify the dynamics of sustainability in higher education institutions all over the world. Teacher education training for basic and secondary schools are undertaken by initial teacher education institutions. It further states that all children have the right to access basic education and that the education system should be dynamic to adapt to the needs of children. Educ. (2012). It is important that persons with disabilities are explicitly mentioned in targets and indicators to ensure that their needs are adequately addressed. Beyond 2015, within the modern/colonial global imaginary? 45, 175195. It is worth mentioning that the student observation checklist listed a section on students with special needs. Educ. Our analytical tools, social model of disability and the SDGs goal 4 were synergistic, which allowed for comparative analysis. But the section seems to relate more to learners with learning difficulties. doi: 10.1080/09687599.2012.673079. One of the key roles of the HLSC is to ensure the systematic alignment of approaches for education-related targets within the wider United Nations SDG structure. The focus on myths and misconceptions is borne out of the fact that they are potential threat to preventive efforts [18-20]. Calles, C. (2020). Hopefully, the ones listed here will help you respond in the right way and shed some light on the truths of the teaching profession. Oftentimes we incautiously do things that exclude persons with disabilities in group settings. Naami, A. Dev. J. Disabil. Using the curriculum to promote inclusive education? *Correspondence: Augustina Naami, anaami@ug.edu.gh, Transforming Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan African Countries Towards the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 by 2030: New Opportunities, Challenges, Problems and Prospects, View all Clean. In two different studies conducted in sub-Saharan countries, 66.3% to 99.7% were reported to have misconceptions about the etiology of TB, 27.6%-90% likewise misunderstood the symptoms of TB, 0.1% . Teach. Examples of how anthropomorphism is misleading. ), can be reviewed. S. Grek, C. Maroy, and A. Verger (Milton Park: Routledge), 4358. It could be an ice breaker or other warming up exercises that could exclude learners with disabilities. The critical question is what to teach. If you're a teacheror if you've even thought about being a teacheryou've probably heard a few of these common misconceptions about teaching. Teaching should therefore involve the full participation of pupils. B. The policy sets an agenda of child friendly schools, which implies schools in Ghana ought to look out for children; that is child-seeking and again they should focus attention on children; that is, schools should be child-centered. The 5 million figure collaborates with the World Health Organizations estimates that disability affects 1520% of every countrys population (World Health Organization, 2018). Data analysis was done by first transcribing the audiotaped interview into word format, then both inductive and deductive approaches were used for coding, pattern development, matching and building themes and subthemes. University culture and sustainability: designing and implementing an enabling framework. 10, 7086. Although the various studies by Dodor et . Teachers in the U.S. do make far less than similarly educated professionals. For persons with disabilities, self-awareness is even more important given the socio-cultural and religious beliefs and practices that marginalize and discriminate against them and the resultant negative attitudes, stigma, discrimination, and exclusion and of persons with disabilities in all spheres of life (Kassah et al., 2012; Adjei et al., 2013; Dugbartey and Barimah, 2013; Naami, 2019). Curriculum in 2018 was written to reform education and the school curriculum. In Ghana, a considerable milestone has been the integration of the SDGs into the medium-term development of Ghana. High. Dev. Spec. 6. For example, in Ghana, some women believe that swelling of the face, hands or feet is an indication that the woman is going to have a baby boy [ 13 ]. Welcome to the Ministry of Education Changing Ghana Through Education. Findings of the study are expected to make useful contributions to information, education and communication strategies for dispelling myths and misconceptions about TB in Ghana. That the student teacher reflection is aimed at increasing their disability sensitivity and inclusion is fallacious. ed. World Health Organization. Challenges of Inclusion: Local Support Systems and Social Service Arrangements for Persons with Disabilities in Suhum, Ghana: Baseline Study Report. There are two major case study designs: single-case study designs and multiple-case study designs. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.309. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. doi: 10.21125/edulearn.2019.1906. So, we probed further and the narrative was: Yes, for example, so when you go to the school, we want you to try and see if you can find a child with special needs. The proponents of the social model of disability contest that a students personal characteristics such as having an impairment is not the major impediment to learning, but barriers created by schools and society (World Health Organization, 2011; Nakua et al., 2017; Braun and Naami, 2021). Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Guardian, Scholastic, Inc., the College Board, the Center for Teaching Quality, and Education Week. Coast, Ghana E-mail of the corresponding author: kodwo33@gmail.com Abstract The general objective of the study was to evaluate the perspectives, conceptions and misconceptions of students on Industrial Attachment. 8:1056630. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2023.1056630. Plenty of studies conclude that higher teacher pay leads to better teacher quality, which leads to improved student performance. Int. The aim of the study is to develop an understanding of the kinds and sources errors and misconceptions that characterise students' learning of school algebra. This research sought to investigate teachers' experiences with overcrowded classrooms: the case of new Gbawe experimental 1 basic school in Ghana's Greater Accra region. (2013). This has led to misconceptions and poor public image of TVET because many people still hold the view that TVET is good for students who cannot use their brains or students who do not qualify for admission into the universities. Johnstone, C. J., Schuelka, M. J., and Swadek, G. (2020). This paper is framed on a case study methodology within the context of utilizing the social model of disability to examine the curricula of Colleges of Education in Ghana by investigating whether the student teacher is prepared enough to promote inclusive education. Disability inclusiveness requires care and proper planning, but that is not emphasized in the curriculum of Colleges of Education in Ghana. The policy is novel to the teaching profession in Ghana and those already in the service are given the privilege to just register on the teachers portal for the License to be issued to them. Disabil. Socioeconomic factors hindering access to healthcare by persons with disabilities in the Ahanta west municipality, Ghana. Koomson et al (2000) also cites many activities which are involved in teaching. The sample comprised 37 Junior High School (JHS) pupils and one science teacher in Abelemkpe Junior High School in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Ministry of Education. Social Policy and Disabled People: From Exclusion to Inclusion. Politicians especially are noted for living luxurious lives at the expense of their country folks. The forms and the student handbooks were published by the government of Ghana under the Transformative Teacher Education and Learning (T-TELL), School Partnership Program with support from the British government. Ghana, our work on SDGs in Ghana. Available at: https://mofep.gov.gh/sites/default/files/news/Ghana-SDGs-Budget-Report-July-2019.pdf. SDGs in Ghana; why they matter and how we can help. Without the commitment and involvement of tertiary institutions and in the case of training institutions such as Colleges of Education, perhaps the SDGs 4 may not be sustainably attained. CBR Incl. Teachers teach on average 24 periods per week. The ICF helps our understanding of the functioning of people with different disorders and their level of participation in activities as well as how contextual factors could facilitate or impact negatively on functioning. (2018b). doi: 10.1080/03050060902920534. Nancy Barile, Award-Winning Teacher, M.A.Ed. The school environment, the classroom, lessons, class management and assessment are all limited regarding inclusivity of learners with disabilities. To achieve inclusive education, it is imperative that conscientious efforts are made to ensure that disability is mainstream, alongside other vulnerability/diversity variables, such as gender. One of the profound characteristics of the SDGS is the fact that all the goals are interconnected. In spite of the progress that Ghana has made in improving access to school, several children cannot read or write. doi: 10.36251/josi.149, Nakua, E., Yarfi, C., and Ashigbi, E. (2017). eSchool News recently asked readers: If you could clear up one misconception about teachers and/or teaching, what would it be? Our goal was not only to help others understand these misconceptions, but also to learn how teachers feel they are perceived by others. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a comprehensive framework to describe health and health-related issues including disability. Ghanas 2019 SDGs Budget Report. Available at: www.t-tel.org/hub.html (Accessed June 30, 2022). If so, what were some of the teachers actions that seemed to promote or not promote participation? These questions aim at understanding how the teacher manages the classroom environment. At the end senior high school (12th grade) students get to attend universities and other tertiary education institutions. The observation checklist and reflective journals do not make enough room for student teachers to self-reflect on disability, which could be a barrier to the education of persons with various forms of disabilities. The case study as a serious research strategy. So, when they go out, they will observe the teacher to see if they are exhibiting these qualities. Presently, there are 48 Colleges of Education (CoE) in Ghana, up from 38 in 2014 ( Buabeng et al., 2019) and in the 2018/2019 academic year, all Colleges of . If you're a teacheror if you've even thought about being a teacheryou've probably heard a few of these common misconceptions about teaching. Stud. The education of students with disabilities is affected by attitudinal, pedagogical, institutional, informational, and environmental accessibility barriers (World Health Organization, 2011; Nakua et al., 2017; Braun and Naami, 2021). The Impact of School Infrastructure on Learning: A Synthesis of the Evidence, Washington, DC: World Bank Publications. Teacher Education in Ghana: Policies and Practices. 9711 Washingtonian Boulevard, Suite 550, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 | 1-301-913-0115, By submitting your information, you agree to our, DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access), Video of the Week: Dealing with digital distraction in the classroom, Secrets from the library lines: 5 ways schools can boost digital engagement, Follow the Money Insights from K-12 Experts, Creating a winning K12 esports infrastructure, Charter Communications (Spectrum Enterprise). (2018). However, it is equally important to find out whether what the teacher does promotes participation or alienates others. 68, 95115. She was also awarded the 2011 Massachusetts Commonwealth Award in Creative Leadership, and in 2007 was named a member of the 2007 USA Today All-Teacher Team. Mundial, Grupo Banco, and UNICEF. 60, 281301. And that is all before a teacher steps into a classroom. So, the student teacher could identify a television as a resource for learning, but their reflection report does not create room for them to report on whether the resource is beneficial to learners with disabilities. "The one misconception I would like to clarify is around the phrase, 'Those who can cannot do, teach.' He noted that: For example, go to the new schools, yes, we are building nice laboratories, but they are not accessible for learners and student teachers with disabilities. From our observation, the entire school environment was not accessible. Attitudinal barriers are cited as major barriers to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all spheres of life in Ghana (Kassah et al., 2012; Adjei et al., 2013; Dugbartey and Barimah, 2013; Naami, 2014). Oliver, M. (1990). All Rights Reserved. 5, 115. But the curriculum does not adequately address other categories of learners with disabilities who may require other forms of support as stated in the inclusive education policy. Yin, R. K. (1994). The best way to answer this question is by sharing a few stories of your own. National Teachers Standards Guidelines for Ghana: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike. Interaction between the Components of ICF (World Health Organization, 2007). The policy also highlights a flexible curriculum in which schools: owe a responsibility to teach all children, exhibit no discrimination, utilize early intervention practices, ensure childrens participation, involve NGOs, agencies, parents, and government, develop positive attitudes, conduct monitoring and evaluation, have a policy on Persons with Disabilities, and develop assessment practices. The barriers also do not allow of first-hand experiences of inclusive education. Most teachers I know work other jobs during the summer months. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). Ghana: Ministry of Education. Western Governors University WGU. They want to learn and are interested in making a contribution to the world. Moria, A., and Morgado, B. (1994). "Kids Today Are Entitled, Dangerous Brats", I can assure you that most of today's students are hardworking, fun-loving, eager-to-learn youngsters. Your source for IT solutions and innovations to support school-wide success. The Ghana news Agency (GNA) was established on March 5, 1957, i.e. Revista Educacin Superior y Sociedad (ESS) 32, 167201. According to Yin (1981), p. 98, the decision to utilize a case study arises when an empirical inquiry must examine a contemporary phenomenon in its real-life context especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident. Curriculum in 2018, was written to reform education and the school curriculum. Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Thus, there should be more exercises to enable the student teachers to strengthen their reflection on disability to improve acceptance of persons with disabilities. See response below: Whatever course that they take, we have components of misconceptions. However, when we prob. J. Published by the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike International. Similarly, it is common for teachers to use illustrative examples on the board or PowerPoint slides and ask students to see even though they have students with visual impairments. Also, emphasis was place more on the classroom environment, which is good. Ghana 2012 human rights report. by Nancy Barile, Award-Winning Teacher, M.A.Ed. One College of Education in the southern sector of Ghana was the site for the study. The Curriculum Framework is aimed at preparing competent teachers, and against which all Teacher Education Curricula, including the 4-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed. Assuming there is a learner with a mobility disability who uses a wheelchair in a school, will his/her characteristic of having an impairment be considered the barrier or some known access barriers such as storey building without elevators and staircase without accessible ramps? Stay up-to-date with the latest edtech tools, trends, and best practices for classroom, school and district success. She graduated from Kenyon College in 2006 with a BA in English, and enjoys spending way too much time either reading or cooking. But here's what teachers do make: a difference in the world. The policy emphasizes that the curriculum should stress three key principles: Setting suitable learning targets, responding to pupils diverse needs, and overcoming barriers to learning for individuals and groups of pupils. The student teacher is also expected by the curriculum to recognize what makes him/her an inclusive teacher. The observation checklist requires student teachers to identify traits of professionalism of their mentor teachers compared with theirs. Or maybe like those of firefighters: brave, self-sacrificing! I explained that tenure is a right to due process, so a teacher can't be fired without the administration presenting evidence that the teacher was incompetent or unprofessional. 2.2 Misconceptions about TVET education The misconceptions surrounding TVET Education are more negative than positive (Fusheini et al., 2021, Fusheini, . Kassah, A. K., Kassah, L. L., and Agbota, T. K. (2012). For years, governments and other national and international stakeholders have focused their attention on making sure that all children can attend school, and they have backed up that commitment with funding. GhanaS free senior high school policy: evidence and insight from data. High. Afr. In fact, persons with disabilities still face challenges accessing education. In 2012, Burnett and Felsman (2012) signaled the debate on post Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and pointed out the need to incorporate the SDGs in education, particularly in educational institutions. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.07.034, PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar. We evaluated the four learning outcomes under the equity and inclusivity of the cross-cutting pillar. In my view, it is good the government has assured Ghanaians that the CSE will not be part of the new basic school curricula, but we may eventually have to come back to the issue. Is Your Network Prepared to Meet the Demands of a Tech-Rich Environment? SDGs Goal 4-Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all (specifically, targets: 4.5, 4.6, 4.8), and the social model of disability guided the review. Let us know at submissions@eschoolmedia.com. 4. But the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) program was introduced in 1995 as part of efforts to fulfill UNESCOs mission of free universal education for all by 2015 (Akyeampong, 2009). Yes, this is what we want the students to know. J. Int. Dev. To these little ones, reading must be fun. The promises and limitations of the SDG framework for inclusive education and students with disabilities in Grading Goal Four. My students have gone on to become doctors, nurses, legislators, activists, business owners, musicians, social workers, and yesteachers. The policy (Ministry of Education, 2015: p. 6) defines a child with special educational needs [SEN] as: a child with disability, namely, visual, hearing, locomotor, and intellectual impairments. Throughout the curriculum and other auxiliary documents, there are phrases and statements such as How much time was spent helping this student? Did the teacher spend time helping them Did the student(s) with learning needs successfully complete the activities/tasks assigned in the lesson? These questions amply testify that the focus of curriculum and other auxiliary documents are on learners with learning difficulties to the neglect of other categories of disabilities. The requirements for a qualified teacher include all of the skills needed for the 21st-century workplace. Mary Montag, teacher, St. Teresas Academy. 232, 285294. Further reading: A Chance to Build Meaningful Relationships with Students, 5. The Social Model of Disability was proposed by advocates of the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) in 1976 (Shakespeare and Watson, 2010) which was later given credence to the works of scholars such as Oliver (1990), Oliver and Barnes (1998), Finkelstein (1980, 1988), Barnes (1991), and Shakespeare and Watson (2010). Goal four of the SDGs calls for inclusive and equitable quality education for all (Johnstone et al., 2020). 1, 78377846. See Appendix A for details of the interview guide. "Teacher Unions Impede Education Reform". 171, 434445. J. Furth. As the quality assurance officer of this particular institution, these are some of the questions I ask my coordinators. Barrett, P., Treves, A., Shmis, T., and Ambasz, D. (2019). For most parts of the country, life is better than the outside world is made to believe. In many districts, teachers elect to have their salary divided over a 52-week period so they still have money coming in over the summer. Edulearn19 Proc. (2017). doi: 10.1080/1034912X.2019.1651833, Buabeng, I., Ntow, F. D., and Otami, C. D. (2019). She holds a B.A. 1. Persons with disabilities constitute about 15% of the world population, with about 80% of them living in countries of the global south, including Ghana (World Health Organization, 2011). Educ. In 1994, UNESCO organized a World Conference on Special Needs Education in Salamanca, Spain (United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural organization [UNESCO], 1994). The Curriculum Framework provides for teachers at the Universities offering Education and the Colleges of Education. In the 24 years I've worked as a teacher, I've never had a single summer "off.". The Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Educational Reform report (2007) presented the structure of education in Ghana to consist of two to threeyears of nursery school, six compulsory years of primary school, three compulsory years of junior high school and another threeyears of senior high school. retief goosen struck by lightning twice,

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