ETHNIC CONFLICT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON BASIC EDUCATION IN THE BUNKPURUGU YUNYOO DISTRICT OF THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The Continuous ethnic conflicts within Bunkpurugu Yunyoo District have made it almost synonymous with the word “conflict”. This prompted the researcher to set out to ascertain the effects of these conflicts on basic education in the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District. The study was conducted in three selected communities (Kpemale, Bunkpurugu and Sayoogu) in the District. A cross sectional survey was employed. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using questionnaires and interview guides. The findings of the study revealed that the conflicts took the nature of violent attacks where people were killed and houses burnt. It was also revealed that the conflicts reduced basic school enrolment by 47% from 2013 to 2016. The study further revealed that the academic performance of students was reduced as teaching and learning activities were interrupted by the conflicts. Again school attendance also dropped as students and teachers absconded lessons for fear of being killed while other students were conscripted to fight the wars. The Traditional Council, the Police and Military, the Legal system and the Commission of Enquiry were revealed as the main conflict resolution mechanisms in Bunkpurugu Yunyoo District. It was therefore recommended that the Regional and National Houses of Chiefs should engage the Nayiri and consult the people of Bunkpurugu so that the traditional mechanisms of conflict resolution will be employed to end the conflicts, the Government of Ghana should put mechanisms in place that would protect teachers and students in the district during conflicts, the District Education Directorate in Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo should engage teachers so that they can agree to offer extra classes that can cover the periods they missed during the conflicts and the Guidance and Counseling coordinator should assist students to come out from the trauma of wars.