STUDENTS' UNREST IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE UPPER EAST REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Student's Unrest is increasingly becoming a common phenomenon throughout Ghana. Though many resolution mechanisms are being adopted by school administrators to remedy the situation, it still continues to occur in the Senior High Schools with little effort to stop it completely. The study set out to investigate into the possible causes of this social menace which usually derail the developmental gains by government in the form of infrastructural facilities from the limited resources provided by government focusing on the Senior High Schools in the Upper East Region. A descriptive survey was used to purposively select some teachers and students to respond to a set of questionnaires. Interview schedule was designed to solicit the views of headmasters/mistresses, senior housemasters/mistresses and senior prefects of all the selected schools. Focus group discussion was also carried out to seek more in-depth views from students. Observations were made on the infrastructural status of these schools and the general learning environment in order to have first hand information of the state of these facilities. The findings from the study reveal that most schools lack the requisite teaching and learning facilities to enhance learning. This was evidence in the dilapidated structures of most schools especially dormitories which were inhabitable. The study reveals that there is no effective communication channel in most schools leading to misunderstandings between students and staff Students are hardly involved III decision-making thus lead to poor social relationship between students and staff.