The Role of Tutors and Students’ in Promoting Effectiveness in Colleges of Education in the Upper East Region, Ghana

Alaric Awingura Alagbela

doi:10.51867/ajernet.5.4.5

Authors

Dr. Alaric Awingura Alagbela
alagbelal@yahoo.com
School of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, UER, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1900-7961

Keywords:

Colleges of Education, Promoting, Students, School Effectiveness, Tutors

Abstract

This study investigated how tutors and students are involved in school effectiveness of teacher education colleges in the Upper East administrative region of Ghana. The study was guided by the goal setting theory of Edwin Locke. Employing a descriptive survey design, the study had a target population of one thousand three hundred and eighty- one (1381) respondents that comprised tutors, second and third-year students of the two colleges of education. A sample size of two hundred and ninety-eight (298) respondents was obtained from the targeted population using the simple random sampling technique. A self-developed questionnaire was the sole data collection instrument. Descriptive statistical tools such as means, standard deviations were employed in the data analyses. The study revealed that tutors' role in promoting the effectiveness of their colleges include showing commitment to teaching, serving as academic counsellors and role models as well as instilling discipline in students. Students, promote school effectiveness by attending lectures regularly, meeting assignments deadlines, actively participating in the decision-making process of the colleges, and resorting to laid-down communication channels for the redress of their grievances. Based on the data that has been analysed, it can be concluded that internal publics play crucial roles in making and sustaining the effectiveness of their respective institutions so that they continue to deliver on their core mandate. Tutors through the learner-centred approach to teaching or facilitation, activate students' mood for knowledge acquisition and professional training. The study recommends that college authorities should continue to support these internal publics to continue to contribute their quota to further expand the frontiers of school effectiveness of the colleges. Paying regard to this, authorities are encouraged to make use of an open-door policy and participatory decision among all internal publics in the college system especially, in areas that fall within their zone of interest.

Author Biography

Dr. Alaric Awingura Alagbela, School of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, UER, Ghana

Alaric Awingura Alagbela holds a PhD in Adult Education and Human Resource Studies from the University of Ghana, Legon. He is currently a senior lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and ICT Education, SoSMTE of the C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences. His research interests include distance and adult learning, school administration and human resources management.

Dimensions

REFERENCES

Bada, H. A., Ariffin, T.F.T., & Nordin, H.B. (2020).The effectiveness of teachers in Nigerian secondary schools. The role of instructional leadership of principles. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 27(3) 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2020.1811899

Badu-Nyarko, S.K. (2019). Basic research methods in social science. Accra: Woeli Publishing Services.

Botha, R.J. (2010). School effectiveness: Conceptualizing divergent assessment approaches. South Africa Journal of Education, 30(4), 605-620. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v30n4a391

Brasof, M., & Mansfield, K. C. (2018).Student voice and school leadership: Introduction. Journal of Ethical Educational Leadership, 7(1), 5-8.

Creswell, J. W. (2003). Qualitative, Quantitative and mixed methods approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, London: Sage

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Qualitative and Quantitative Mixed Methods approaches. U S A: SAGE Publications Inc.

Crick, D. R., Steven B., Green, H., & Pedder, D. (2016). Evaluating the wider outcomes of schools: Complex systems modelling for leadership decisioning. Educational Management & Leadership. 1-25.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143215597233

Fraenkel, J.R., & Wallen, N.E. (2006). How to design and evaluate research in education (10thed.). New York, NY: Me Graw-Hill.

Ghana Colleges of Education. (2012). Act 847. Accra: Adwinsa Publications.

Goddard, Y. L., Goddard, R. D., & Tschannen-Moran, M. (2007). A theoretical and empirical investigation of teacher collaboration for school improvement and student achievement in public elementary schools. Teachers College Record, 109(4), 877-896.

https://doi.org/10.1177/016146810710900401

Government of Ghana. (2002). Meeting the challenges of education in the twenty first century report of the president's committee on education reforms in Ghana. Accra: Government of Ghana.

Government of Ghana. (2004). White paper on the report of the education reform review committee. Accra; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

Hansson, P., & Gamage, D. (2008). A study of professional development of Swedish school leaders and their views on how it needs to be navigated. World Studies in Education, 9(1), 55-72.

https://doi.org/10.7459/wse/09.1.04

Herrera, R. (2010). Principal leadership and school effectiveness: Perspectives from principals and teachers (Doctoral Dissertation, Western Michigan University, USA).

Hirose, M., & Creswell, J. W. (2023). Applying core quality criteria of mixed methods research to an empirical study. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 17(1), 12-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/15586898221086346

Javornik, Š., & Klemenčič Mirazchiyski, E. (2023). Factors Contributing to School Effectiveness: A Systematic Literature Review. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 13(10), 2095-2111. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13100148

Kilag, O. K., Uy, F., Calledo, M. F., Diano Jr, F., Morales Jr, N., & Abendan, C. F. (2024). Assessing the Impact of Principal's Instructional Leadership, School Level, and Effectiveness in Educational Institutions. International Multidisciplinary Journal of Research for Innovation, Sustainability, and Excellence (IMJRISE), 1(1), 73-82.

Kreuger, W., & Neuman, W. L. (2016). Social work research methods. Qualitative and quantitative applications. USA: Pearson Education Inc. London: Sage Publication

Leithwood, K., Seashore-Louis, K., Anderson, S., & Wahlstrom, K. (2004). How leadership influences student learning. New York: Wallace Foundation. https://doi.org/10.59656/EL-SB5787.001

Lin, Y.J. (2014). Teacher involvement in school decision making. Journal of Studies in Education, 4(3), 50-58. https://doi.org/10.5296/jse.v4i3.6179

Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (1990). A theory of goal setting and task performance. Eaglewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice - Hall.

Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation: A 35 year's odyssey. American Psychologist, 57, 705-717. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.57.9.705

Lunenburg, F.C. (2010). Communication; The process, barriers and improving school effectiveness. Schooling 7(1), 4.

MacBeath, J. (1999). Schools must speak for themselves: the Case for school self-evaluation. London: Routledge.

Machumu, H. J., & Kaltila, M.M. (2014). Influence of leadership styles on teachers' job satisfaction. International Journal of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, 6(4) 53-61.

https://doi.org/10.5897/IJEAPS12.036

Marks, H. M., & Printy, S. M. (2003). Principal leadership and school performance: An integration of transformational and instructional leadership. Educational Administration Quarterly, 39(3), 370-397.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X03253412

Minca, M. E. (2015). Teacher Quality and School improvement. What is the role of research? Oxford Review of Education, 41(2), 253-269.

https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2015.1023013

Mortimore, P. (2000). Globalization, effectiveness and improvement. Paper read at the 13th annual meeting of the international congress for school effectiveness and school improvement. Hong Kong Lameury 4 - 8.

Muijs, B., & Reynolds, D. (2010). School effectiveness and teacher effectiveness in math. Some preliminary findings from the evaluation of mathematics enhancement programmme. School effectiveness and school improvement. An International Journal Research, Policy and Practice, 11(3), 273-303.

https://doi.org/10.1076/0924-3453(200009)11:3;1-G;FT273

Newman, E. (2013). The upgrading of teacher training institutions to colleges of education: issues and prospects. Africa Journal of Teacher Education, 3(2),1-13. https://doi.org/10.21083/ajote.v3i2.2728

Nyarkoh, E. (2016). The degree of autonomy in college of education in Ghana. A comparative study of before and after their upgrade to tertiary status (Unpublished Thesis, Norway: University of Oslo).

Odoom, D., Opoku, E., & Ntiakah-Ayipah, D. (2016). Staff development needs at the colleges of education in Ghana. Evidence from Agogo College. Intentional Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 5, 127-137.

Osei, A.A., & Adu, K.D. (2016). Transitional challenges facing staff development in selected colleges of education in Ghana. International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences, 6(4), 303.

Osuala, E.C. (2007). Introduction to research methodology (3rd Edition). Ibadan: Africana. First publishers.

Rose, P. (2003). Community participation in school policy and practice in Malawi: balancing local knowledge, national policies and international agency priorities. Compare, 33(1), 47-64.

https://doi.org/10.1080/03057920302597

Rudduck, J., & McIntyre, D. (2007). Improving learning through consulting pupils.Routledge, London. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203935323

Ruzek, E. A, Domina, T., Conley A. M., Duncan, G. J., & Karabenenick, S. A. (2015). Using Value Added models to measure teacher effectiveness on students' motivation and achievement. Journal of Early Adolescence, 35(5), 852-882. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431614525260

Sarantakos, S. (2005). Social research (3rd ed.). New York: Palgrave.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-230-20901-5

Seashore- Louis, K, Dretzke, B., & Wahlstrom, K. (2009). How does leadership affect student achievement? Results from a national survey. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego.

https://doi.org/10.1080/09243453.2010.486586

Siri sookship, S., Ariratana, W., & Tang, K. N. (2015). The impact of leadership styles of school administrators on affecting teacher effectiveness. Procedia - Social and Behavoural Sciences, 186, 1031-1037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.022

Spillane, J. P., John, B. D & Loyiso, J. (2003). Leading institutions: The distribution of leadership for instruction. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 35(5), 533-543. https://doi.org/10.1080/0022027021000041972

Taiwo, A.E., & Ade- Ajayi, J. (2015). Teacher variables and school effectiveness in Ekiti State, Nigeria. International Journal Humanities and Social Science, 5(7), 95- 101.

Tashakkori, A., & Teddlie, C. (eds). (2010). SAGE handbook of mixed methods in social and behavioural research (2nded). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781506335193

Tatlah, I. A., & Iqbal, M. Z. (2012). Leadership styles and school effectiveness: Empirical evidence from secondary level. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 69, 790-797.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.11.474

Teddlie, C., & Tashakkori, A. (2009). Foundations of mixed methods research: integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioural sciences. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

Vatsa, N. (2003). Relationship of Job satisfaction with organisational behaviour. International journal of Education and Applied Research. 2 (2), 17-22.

Wadesango, N. (2011). Strategies of teacher participation in decision making in schools. Journal of Social Science, 27(2), 85-91.

https://doi.org/10.1080/09718923.2011.11892909

Wadesango, N., & Bayaga, A. (2013). Management of schools: Teachers' involvement in decision making processes. African Journal of Business Management, 7(17), 1689.