Quality teaching has become the focus of many education systems including that of Ghana, thus far little attention has been given to teachers and their motivation to ensure quality teaching and improve learning outcomes. This conceptual paper critically examines and analyzes the context of teacher motivation and professional practice in the Ghana Education System. The aim for doing this paper is to become less ethnocentric and to not imminently criticize a familiar system, but to find solutions and examine the current issues in the Ghana Education System. The discussions in this topic analysis paper will focus on the historical context of Ghana followed by the conditions that are causing a lack of motivation among teachers in public high schools as well as efforts put in place to address existing challenges. The proceeding will be an explanation of post-colonial theoretical concepts and how they are involved in teaching. The paper concludes with some future directions for improving the conditions of teachers, in order to improve the quality of teachers’ professionalism and motivation in Ghana.
In order to critically analyze and pinpoint the issues of teacher motivation in public high schools in Ghana, it is essential to briefly elaborate and analyze the historical context of Ghana as a post-colonial developing country. A post-colonial developing country in this paper seeks to perceive Ghana as a nation striving to achieve independence from the Western world. According to Boahen (1975), Ghana was once under British colonial rule until 1957 when she earned political independence. Prior to this period, the governance of the Gold Coast (now Ghana) was taken over by the British and ruled through a system called indirect rule (...
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...able both the attraction and retention of people of high academic quality into the teaching profession in Ghana.
This paper has addressed many topical issues relating to teacher motivation in the Ghana Education System. It has identified the historical context of Ghanian Education System and It addressed and answered the questions: What are the working conditions that are causing a lack of motivation among teachers in public high schools in Ghana? How can teacher motivation in the Ghanaian context be analyzed using post-colonial theoretical concepts and it concluded with some recommendations that can lead to improvements in teacher conditions and motivation in Ghana. if teachers are motivated they may feel responsible and committed to their profession. A high sense of responsibility and professional commitment as a result could improve student learning outcomes.
I am determined to become a teacher not only to teach various skills and academic lessons to student, but also to help guide them to achieve his or her goals in their lives. According to an article in the Black Collegian, by Nat LaCour, “Teaching require enormous patience, and th...
Many researches have been conducted to investigate what motivates students for better academic performance and whether it has a correlation with achievement motivation.
In a society where kids must go to school up to the collegiate level, teaching is an impactful career choice. Teachers help contour the minds of future leaders of the world. Furthermore, teachers play a crucial role in guiding students to the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to succeed in life, and teachers lead students to make informed decisions on any topic the meet in the future. As a teacher, a person must relinquish their knowledge onto students. Finally, they must prepare their students for all the obstacles they will face later in life.
It is expected that the profession of teaching embraces many qualities of any other professional practice. Teachers must possess a combination of many qualities beginning with a strong academic background and wide-ranging knowledge. The National Framework for Professional Standards for Teaching (2003) it is the knowledge of students, curriculum, subject matter, pedagogy, education – related legislation and the specifically teaching context that is the foundation on effective teaching, and a firm foundation on which to construct well educated judgments.
Touching lives and affecting the outcome of so many futures a teacher is the epitome of a leader. Just as a leader has his or her own style, a teacher’s way of motivating his/her students, also plays an important role for a students success. Spending more time children then most parents do, a teacher is crucial in shaping with children of the future. If teachers are poor leaders then children suffer. When they shine as leaders, children blossom and the universe is wide open. As a teacher must fine tune their leadership skills and find the best style of teaching for the students who they are teaching. The intrinsic characteristics of a teacher can be categorized into a few main teaching styles or leadership styles. Directing, participating, delegating, and combined styles are the main forms of teaching and leading. The qualities associated with these styles are necessary to any teacher. The purpose ...
All in all, teachers need to be viewed as professionals and not as simply pay babysitters because most do care about the students. Teachers tolerate the low wages, long hours and repetitive disrespect because they desired to place attention on student success. Teachers should not enter that career for the money, but for the devotion they will place on the students. Luckily there are ways to make teachers more valuable in society. Teachers should be given the right equipment to teach the subject that corresponds to them, the two-year skill evaluation should be more precise and by surprise, so no one knows. Also, students should be allowed to evaluate the teachers to provide feedback. Also, teachers should be aware of the surrounding cultures. In conclusion, teachers should motivate students to reach levels they themselves never thought they could attain.
In Nigeria, not everyone has the opportunity to quality education. Throughout life I have had several disruptions on my educational path. I attended school until my father’s business went bankrupt, combined with the local terror in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Afterwards, Family and I began a series of migrations in search of a better life, In the process, we migrated to several different countries with different education
Ghana News Agency (2003), Educationist laments poor supervision in basic schools [Internet], Ghana News, Available from: , [Accessed 11 March 2011].
Knowing the characteristics of an exceptional teacher, along with realizing the challenges that teachers face to become effective and respected are daily motivation for me. They inspire me to become a more educated and knowledgeable person, which will allow me to become the admirable, successful teacher I know I can be.
We have to admit that humans often need incentives. For most people, money is a driving force which can inspire them to make progress (Barbieri, 52). If by performing better, you could earn more money, I think most people would gladly perform well and strive to achieve better results. Teachers are also human beings, and the vast majority of them would feel the same. Higher wages can increase the enthusiasm and motivation of teachers. At the same time, merit pay can improve teachers’ motivation, not only because of the money, but also because of a sense of accomplishment (Honawar and Olson, 26-27). When a teacher, through his or her own careful research of teaching strategies, passion, and devotion to teaching, help his or her students get better grades and is also rewarded by the schools, he or she will be filled with a sense of purpose. This will make that teacher know his or her effort is worth it, and in following lessons he or she would strive to expend even more energy and time to improving his or her teaching level and quality. Meanwhile, outstanding teachers will also become role models for other teachers who do not get bonuses. In this case, in a school, it will form a healthy competition among teachers. Everyone will be more diligent and strive to improve the level and quality of their
My interest in teaching started at a young age. I used to watch my teachers in awe as they were able to find new ways to get their students involved and excited to learn. Their enthusiasm to teach was so inspiring. I would often find myself using that same fervor as I grasped each concept. I, then, was able to relay it to my fellow classmates as a peer tutor. To this day, becoming a teacher is a passion that flows through me. However, my enthusiasm and passion are not the only reasons I would be a good teacher. I aspire to see a student’s ability to grasp the knowledge they never before understood. I aspire to see a student succeed at something they never thought they ever could. I aspire to not only support students with academic skills, but also with life lessons about the value of community, pride in one’s own ethnicity, good citizenship, sportsmanship, and more. I aspire to play a fundamental role in ensuring that all students from all cultures and learning abilities have the opportunity to be guided in a positive learning
Student motivation can be affected by several factors. These elements include parent involvement, teacher enthusiasm, rewards, peers, the learner’s environment, personal experiences, personal interests of the student, and self-esteem and self-image.
Along these two weeks we have been prompt to make a recall to our own way of learning and why we became a teacher: Was it because coincidence, due to life circumstances, maybe because family tradition, was it a conscious decision or because someone influenced us? Whatever the answer is, we have to face reality and be conscious that being a teacher does not only means to teach a lesson and asses students learning. It requires playing the different roles a teacher must perform whenever is needed and required by our learners, identify our pupils needs and preferences, respecting their integrity and individuality but influencing and motivating them to improve themselves and become independent.
Colonialism is a situation whereby a dominant imperium or center carries on a relationship of control and influence over its colonies (Key Terms in Post-Colonial Theory, n.d.). In this drama, Aidoo not only tells a disobedient child’s story, but she actually reveals a very important historical moment in Ghanaian history through the personal tragedy of Anowa and Kofi Ako. Anowa in this drama represents Africa. Her destruction represents Africa’s fall which was as a result of the actions of selfish men (represented by Kofi Ako) who only cared about amassing wealth to the detriment of their fellow Africans’ wellbeing, thereby betraying Africa as a whole.... ...
My motivation also extended from watching my parents, both my mother and father are employed as primary and secondary teachers in public schools, respectively. Also on my mother’s side her parents were both worked in secondary education. Whilst I didn’t realise the exact power of their influence until recently, I have come to note that it was probably their enthusiasm and love for their job, their constant desire to learn and make a difference in the world through education that has influenced me into choosing my career path. Their roles have also made me realise the importance of teachers and the power they have to help those in need and change lives.