Implementation challenges of the senior high school history curriculum in Upper Denkyira East Municipality and Upper Denkyira West district

Abstract

The study was a case study that employed cross-sectional survey to examine the implementation challenges of the Senior High School history curriculum in Upper Denkyira East Municipality and Upper Denkyira West District. The study sought to answer the following research questions: (i) How do SHS students perceive History subjects in the study area? (ii) How clear are History teachers about the components of the SHSHC in the study area? (iii) What are the academic and professional qualifications of History teachers in the study area? (iv)What kinds of support are given towards the implementation of the SHSHC in the selected schools in the study area? (v) What are the implementation challenges of the SHSHC in the selected schools in the study area? A sequential mixed method approach was employed for the study with questionnaires and interviews as the main instruments for data collection. Census technique and Purposive sampling were employed for the study to select one hundred and seventy-five (175) respondents comprising students, teachers, heads of department and head of institutions. Analysis of data of students and history teachers was based on descriptive statistics with emphasis on mean and standard deviation. Also, qualitative data from Heads of institutions and departments were analyzed according to themes and verbatim quotation of responses of respondents. The study revealed that students perceived history as understandable and abstract in nature. The study identified that lack of or low in-service training and workshop for history teachers, inadequate funding, non-involvement of teachers in decision making and planning of the history programmes and insufficient instructional period affect the implementation of history Curriculum at the SHS level. It was therefore recommended that teaching of History should be made more practical than theoretical.