Factors affecting teaching and learning of physics in Ghanaian senior high schools a case study in Greater-Accra Region

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the factors affecting teaching and learning of Physics in Ghanaian Senior High Schools. Purposive and convenient sampling techniques were used to sample teachers and students respectively. The sample size for the study comprised 50 teachers and 300 students. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, means, and standard deviations were used to analyse the data. The decline in the number of students taking physics could be due to a combination of factors including the perception that physics is a difficult subject with low levels of student achievement; the perceived nature of the subject as being highly mathematical and abstract; and how the subject is taught at the high school level. The findings revealed that demonstration and discussions to illustrate concepts/ phenomena, emphasizing qualitative thinking and presentation of concepts, laying emphasis on mathematical presentation of concepts/students planning and doing their experiment, teacher demonstration of problem-solving on the whiteboard, and teaching and learning being teacher-centered are the main teaching approaches of physics in senior high schools. The main constraining factors of teaching and learning physics in senior high schools were inadequate professional physics teachers, inadequate laboratory equipment, students‟ perception of physics, inadequate number of physics teachers and students finding physics too mathematical and challenging. With regards to the way forward, it was identified from the teachers‟ responses that there should be better salaries and/or incentives for physics teachers, there should be more teacher professional development on physics practicals and training of more graduate teachers must be encouraged and supported. The responses of the students indicated that appropriate authorities should provide adequate laboratory equipment and there should be more training for physics teachers. The study concluded that due to the important nature of the subject it is important for stakeholders of education to come together to find modern ways of teaching the subject and also address critical challenges such as inadequate laboratory equipment, and professional development of teachers among others.