ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF HEADS OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN TAMALE METROPOLIS

Abstract

The study was set up to investigate the performance of head of Junior High Schools in the Tamale Metropolis. The aim of the literature review was to present and discuss in detailed the existing knowledge and existing concepts that are theoretical and empirical which could throw more light on school heads leadership styles and performance. The quantitative research approach was used. The design used was descriptive survey. Simple random sampling technique was used to select sample size of 124 participants which comprised 85 teachers and 39 head teachers of the Tamale Metropolis. The study used questionnaire as the instrument to collect data from the teachers and the heads of the junior high schools. The questionnaire contained both closed-ended and opened-ended questions to elicit views from heads and teachers. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the field data. Participants used in the study had understanding of the purpose of the research. The study revealed that: head teachers leaned towards Laissez-faire leadership style. Head teachers had not successfully created conducive environment for teaching and learning. Head teachers performed some of the following roles effectively: admission of pupils, receiving teachers posted to school, classification of teachers, assigning schedules and distribution of TLMs. There was a poor collaboration between head teachers and stakeholders of the school particularly the SMC, PTA and the community. There is ‘low satisfaction of the efficiency and effectiveness of the administrative work by head teachers. The challenges heads teachers faced in the schools includes: inadequate physical infrastructure, TLMs, computer labs, sewing machines, basic carpentry tools, basic tools for BDT practicals. Some recommendations made included: All heads of the junior high schools should be made to undergo a week leadership training organized by the GES aims at equipping them with leadership styles such as democratic and participatory styles of leaderships. All stakeholders in education should pull resources together to purchase and make available physical infrastructure, TLMs, computer labs, sewing machines, basic carpentry tools, basic tools for BDT practicals in all the schools.