This study investigated the effects of increase in enrolment on teachers in second cycle institutions in Ghana. The effects of increase enrolment on teacher’s work load, classroom management, health, social life and classroom interaction. The study employed the pragmatic paradigm and mixed method approach. Concurrent triangulation comprising descriptive survey for the quantitative phase and a case study for the qualitative phase.  Self-developed questionnaire and semi-structured interview schedule were used to collect data from respondents. A total of hundred and forty-seven (147) respondents were used for the study. It was made up of one hundred and forty (140) teachers used at the quantitative phase and seven (7) head teachers used in the qualitative phase. The study found out that increase enrolment increased the workload of teachers significantly, and exposed teachers to health challenges. The study also revealed that increase enrolment made it very difficult for teachers to manage their classrooms and interact with students during instructional periods. The study recommended that teaching assistants be assigned to all teachers, government should set up a special body which is made up of occupational counsellors, psychologists, physicians who will tasked to organize programs on monthly bases to educate teachers on how to manage work related stress they encounter. Finally, the government should build more schools and make it a priority to train more teachers.   Received: 15 September 2021 / Accepted: 16 October 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021

The purpose of the study was to investigate the challenges found in the implementation of school guidance services in Ghana. The study was underpinned by pragmatic paradigm where concurrent triangulation mixed method design was used for the study. At the quantitative phase, survey was conducted while multiple case study was also used for the qualitative phase. The total sample for the study was one thousand six hundred and ninety-one (1691) teachers was selected. At the quantitative phase questionnaire were administered to 1679 teachers while 12 headmaster/mistresses were interview at the qualitative phase. It emerged that orientation, counselling and information services should be adequately provided in senior high schools to provide students from indiscipline. Moreover, the study revealed that the location of the teacher-counsellor’s office should be convenient to ensure privacy and confidentiality which would enable students to patronise guidance service. Again, the finding revealed that there should be a clear national policy on funding, allocation of time and role definition of school counsellors to help them carry their duties. The paper highlights comprehensive overview on issues related to the implementation school guidance services.

This study investigated how large class size and the psychological class environment influenced students’ academic performance. Survey design was employed. Three hundred and twenty students were purposively selected from ten senior high schools in Kumasi Metropolis. Questionnaire was used to obtain data from the respondents with a reliability coefficient of 0.7. The study revealed that large class size influenced students’ academic performance and also limits their learning opportunities. It also came up that psychological class environment have a great influence on students’ academic performance. Furthermore, the study showed that students perform well in smaller class size and good psychological classroom environment. The study, therefore, recommends that small class size and good psychological class environment are better for good performance. Teachers and head teachers should make sure they conform to the required teacher to student ratio of 1:40 recommended by the Ghana Education Service. Teachers should create an enabling environment for students to participate in classroom activities. Government should, therefore, employ more teachers and build more classrooms to solve the problem of large class size in the senior high schools in Ghana.

This study investigates how school counsellor’s demographics influence the provision of guidance services in senior high schools in Ghana. The study was underpinned by a positivist philosophical viewpoint where a quantitative approach and the descriptive survey was used to assess how school counsellor’s demographics influence their provision of guidance services. A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents. A total of a hundred and thirty-six (136) respondents was selected on a purposive base. The study found out that there was a significant difference between the age, gender, experience and academic qualification of counsellors have an influence in the provision of guidance services in SHSs in Ghana. The study also revealed that orientation, information and counselling services were adequately performed in SHSs, but consultation and follow-up were the least provided services. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education should ensure that the employment criteria for school counsellors should be based mostly on academic qualification and experience. Finally, the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service should organise seminars for school counsellors frequently to have rudimentary knowledge and skills to help them in practice.