Impact of free senior high school policy on visual arts programme a case of New AbiremAfosu senior high school

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of the Free Senior High School policy in the New Abirem/Afosu Senior High School in the Eastern Region of Ghana. An explanatory mixed method design was used for the study. Three instruments were designed and validated for data collection; these were (i) Questionnaire (ii) Interview (iii) Observation Instrument. The target population comprised all the visual arts teachers, students and alumni of New Abirem/Afosu Senior High School. The researcher employed stratified random sampling to access 114 respondents out of the targeted population and used Microsoft Excel and The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21) for data analysis. Descriptive statistics was employed in analysing and answering research question 1,2 and 3. The results revealed that there has not been any improvement in the challenges confronting the visual arts department of the school especially the physical infrastructure (studio), requisite tools and equipment, despite a few materials supply. Though there was an upsurge in enrolment, it was also evident that the Free SHS policy has not realised its anticipated positive impact in terms of quality in education due to its complementary regulations and how the entire policy is being implemented.