Browsing by Author "Boateng, F."

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Inclusive Education in Ghana: Differing Perceptions among Teachers.
(2017-11-22) Butakor, P.K.; Boateng, F.
Social and inclusive education as captured under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has enjoined most countries to implement policies to bring about education for all. Inclusive education recognizes that learners come from diverse backgrounds with varied characteristics, which include different learning capacities and cognitive development. And that incorporating all categories of people into the mainstream educational facilities is a way to build inclusive societies. Though there have been several improvements in education in Ghana as a result of policies implemented by previous and current governments, the education system still has some challenges when it comes to inclusion. These challenges include the public prejudiced perception of persons with special needs, architectural barriers, inadequate assessment facilities, inaccessible curriculum, curriculum inflexibility and pre-/post-training in special education needs for regular teachers. The purpose of this study was to examine Ghanaian teachers’ perception towards inclusive education. The Multidimensional Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education Scale (MATIES) developed by Mahat (2008) was administered to 280 randomly selected teachers within Accra. The MATIES is an 18-item scale scored on six points Likert scale ranging from strongly disagree, disagree, somewhat disagree, somewhat agree, agree, and strongly agree, and comprised of three dimensions: cognitive, affective, and behavioural domains; each measured by six indicators or items. The results of Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) yielded estimates with poor fit indices (CFI = 0.780; TLI = 0.745; RMSEA = 0.125; and SRMR = 0.150) in comparison with the acceptable fit indices. This clearly showed that the three-factor structure of the MATIES theorized by Mahat (2008) was not supported by the Ghanaian sample. A follow-up Principal Axis Factoring with an Oblimin with Kaizer Normalization rotation yielded a four-factor structure for the MATIES with the Ghanaian sample. These four factors were labelled; Behavioural, Affective, Positive Beliefs, and Negative Beliefs. The reliability coefficients for these four subscles were 0.90. 0.86, 0.77, and 0.73 respectively. Results of independent t-test indicated a significant statistical difference between males and females on their negative beliefs towards inclusive education, t (273) = 3.516, p-value = 0.001., where men (Mean = 7.628, SD = 3.194) exhibited more negative beliefs towards inclusive education than females (Mean = 6.384, SD = 2.595). For differences across the categories of highest educational qualification (certificate A, Diploma in Basic Education, Higher National Diploma, Bachelors, and Masters), ANOVA results indicated a statistically significant difference on the behavioural subscale, F(5,278) = 4.178, p=0.001. A post hoc Tukey test revealed that the difference was between certificate “A” teachers against the remaining categories. The post hoc test also showed a difference between teachers with bachelors and those with master’s degrees. ANOVA results also indicated differences across teaching experience on the affective dimension of the MATIES, F (3,276) = 5.059, p=0.001. A post hoc Tukey test identified a significant difference between teachers with less than 3 years teaching experience and those who have taught between 3 – 10 years. Significant differences were also noted between 3 – 10 and the 20+ years of teaching experience groups. Finally the ANOVA results didn’t find any statistically significant difference between the ages of teachers, the level they teach and the four dimensions of teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education. Implications of these findings will be discussed.
Increasing demand for transnational education in Ghana: A structural equation analysis of the causation
(Cogent Education, 2019-09-18) Boateng, F.; Owusu-Kumih, E.O.; Loglo, F.
Transnational Education (TNE) has often been used as a measure to support the economic sustainability of the institution of higher learning involved. But in recent times, TNE has become one of the important avenues for Higher Education Institutions (HEI) to improve their International Students Portfolios without bringing the students to the HEI host-country. But the bigger question is on the demand side of transnational education; what is pushing students in developing countries to enroll in Transnational Education (TNE) Programmes, modules or academic units? This research paper used the structural equation model to analyse a surveyed sample data drawn from a TNE active students’ population of 2720 in Ghana; representing five universities in Ghana which had either an articulation or franchise TNE agreements with one or more of UK universities. The results showed a causation of both signaling and human capital development factors; however, a much stronger path relationship along the TNE Diploma acquisition, human capital development and high earnings. The research posits that the value of the TNE Diplomas in Ghana is in its ability to deliver the requisite knowledge, ability and skills to its graduates. Again, the results showed that the inherent “signals” of good education of which TNE arrangements provides, adds to its overall appeal.
Investigating Zoom Continuance Use by Ghanaian University Students in Blended Learning Arrangements in the Post-Covid Era
(In 2022 6th International Conference on Education and E-Learning (ICEEL), 2023) Fianu, E.E.; Arku, Z.; Affum, E.; Boateng, S.; Boateng, F.
The study sought to determine factors that significantly influence university students’ continuance use of Zoom in blended learning arrangements in the post-Covid era. Zoom Cloud Meetings is a proprietary video teleconferencing software program developed by Zoom Video Communications. Zoom became one of the e-learning platforms that gained attention in the education sector in Ghana after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and has been widely used by educational institutions for online lectures. The research model comprises a set of relationships between constructs from the Infor mation System (IS) success model (system quality, usage intention, and user satisfaction), Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) of IS (perceived usefulness and usage continuance), and two constructs identified from empirical review (instructional quality and com puter self-efficacy). Three hundred and thirty-five (335) students from selected universities in Ghana who partake in Zoom-based lectures completed an online survey via Google forms. Survey data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation mod elling (PLS-SEM). Lecturers and management of universities will find the study useful for the improvement of teaching and learning via Zoom-based lectures.
Natural Resource Governance and Community Rights. A Case of the Akosombo Resettlement Project
(University of Ghana, 2014-07) Boateng, F.; Doh, D.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work
Natural resource governance simply refers to the managing the use of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants and animals, with a particular focus on managing or governing how the identified natural resource affects the quality of life for both present and future generations of a people (Starik, 1995). In the process of managing these resources, often than not certain aspects of community interests in the natural resource are affected. In Ghana, the construction of the Akosombo Dam on the River Volta, brought about issues regarding natural resource governance and its interplay with community rights. In this instance, communities within the lower Volta Basin were resettled from their original habitation, consequent to the construction of the Akosombo Dam across the Lower Volta and a hydro-electric installation to generate cheap electricity for the country (Jackson, 1970). To this point, this study attempted to study the interplay of the governance strategy and the community rights adopting a qualitative approach using a case study approach to examine the phenomenon using the community of Agyena. The study found out that the natural resource governance processes and procedures regarding the Volta Lake is effectively enforced and it is also been proactively managed. In relation to its impact on community rights of the people in Agyena, the study concludes that the social rights, the economic rights, the cultural rights and the natural rights of the people of Agyena has been adversely affected due to prohibition and restrictions in the use of the Volta Lakes and its ancillary natural resources. The study further recommends that future studies should consider studying the phenomenon in other communities that were affected alongside the community of Agyena to see if similar results are likely to be obtained.
Nurses’ and midwives’ perspectives on participation in national policy development, review and reforms in Ghana: a qualitative study
(BMC Nursing, 2021) Acheampong, A.K.; Ohene, L.A.; Asante, I.N.A.; Kyei, J.; Dzansi, G.; Adjei, C.A.; Adjorlolo, S.; Boateng, F.; Woolley, P.; Nyante, F.; Aziato, L.
Background: The World Health Organization has admonished member countries to strive towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) through actionable health policies and strategies. Nurses and midwives have instrumental roles in achieving UHC via health policy development and implementation. However, there is a paucity of empirical data on nurses and midwives’ participation in policy development in Ghana. The current study explored nurses and midwives’ participation in policy development, reviews and reforms in Ghana. Methods: A qualitative descriptive exploratory design was adopted for this study. One-on-one individual interviews were conducted after 30 participants were purposefully selected. Data was audiotaped with permission, transcribed and analyzed inductively using the content analysis procedures. Results: Two main themes emerged from the data: participation in policy development and perspectives on policy reviews and reforms. The findings showed that during health policy development and reviews, nurses in Ghana were overlooked and unacknowledged. Policy reforms regarding bridging the pre-service preparation gap, staff development and motivation mechanisms and influence on admission into nursing schools were raised. Conclusion: The authors concluded that nurses and midwives are crucial members of the healthcare systems and their inputs in policy development and reviews would improve health delivery in Ghana.
Physiological changes associated with Okra mosaic virus infection in field grown okra plants
(AJAB, 2021) Amiteye, S.; Appiah, A.S.; Boateng, F.; Kutufam, J.T.; Amoatey, H.M.
As a prerequisite for the breeding of virus-resistant okra cultivars, the effect of Okra mosaic virusinfection on physiological performance of ten okra cultivars were assessed under field conditions within the coastal savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana. All cultivars succumbed to the disease and expressed varying degrees of symptoms. The results showed that plant height at initial and 50% flowering were significantly reduced with cultivar Clemson spineless showing the highest reduction of 38% and 35% respectively. Plant height at 50% podding was also reduced in all cultivars with the highest reduction (40%) occurring in cultivar Clemson spineless. Virus-infected plants of cultivars Kwabenya 1, Labadi dwarf and Asutem took on the average 43 days to attain 50% flowering compared to 25 days in healthy or control plants. Diseased plants had significantly (P<0.05) delayed, taking on the average 47 days after planting to attain 50% podding compared to the control plants with an average of 35 days. Infected plants of cultivars Kwabenya 1 and Labadi dwarf took the highest number of 51 days to attain 50% podding. Pod length and width were also reduced in all cultivars but were highest in cultivars Lucky 19 F1 and Clemson spineless at 52.19% and 46.25% respectively. Based on this assessment, cultivars Adom and Asutem which were less affected in terms of disease severity and fruit yield reduction could be exploited in future breeding programmes.