Abstract:
The study examined the influence of violent demonstrations on academic performance in
senior high schools, using TI Ahmadiyya Senior High School as a case study. The study
was descriptive using a sample size of 210 respondents comprising staff, parents and
students. Data was collected using questionnaires and analysed using the SPSS. The
study identified the following as factors contributing to violent demonstrations in senior
high schools: Inadequate infrastructure, Inadequate teachers, Drug and substance abuse,
Inadequate feeding, Lack of effective teaching, Poor leadership, Excessive use of
corporal punishment, Abdication of parental responsibility, Adolescent identity crisis,
Culture of impunity in the society, and Student electoral system. The study observed that
the most likely effect of demonstrations is the destruction to school property. Other
significant effects include the loss of study time and school closure. The study found that
violent demonstrations results in inability to complete entire syllabus resulting in poor
performance, increased examination malpractice, and need to rely on extra tuition
creating extra cost. The study identified the following as measures to prevent
demonstrations in senior high schools: adequate infrastructure, adequate teaching and
learning materials, Improved teacher-student ratio, Reviewing curriculum to address
overload, Improved quality of feeding, Incorporating specialization and balanced
curriculum, Strengthening guidance and counseling, Regular forums to have students’
views heard, School management system should be participatory, and Effective parental
guidance. Key recommendations included the need for functioning counseling units in
senior high schools to help address student challenges before they get uncontrollable.
Description:
A Project Report in the Department of Educational Leadership, Faculty of
Education and Communication Sciences, submitted to the School of Graduate
Studies, University of Education, Winneba, in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for award of the Master of Arts (Educational Leadership) degree