This study sought to address burnout syndrome during the COVID-19 global pandemic among visual art teachers in Ghana. The startling intricacies of COVID-19 burnout among Visual Art Teachers (VAT) in Ghana were discovered using an exploratory research approach. 112 participants were surveyed across Senior High Schools Visual Art Teachers in Ghana. Data were analyzed using t-test, regression, and analysis of variance test (F test) to determine whether there were significant differences between the burnout levels and demographic factors. The findings revealed that, the only effects of the burnout that are statistically significant on gender are reduction in productivity or efficacy in teaching difference (t=-4.41, p=0.00(p<0.05)), Sleep disorders (t= -3.22, p=0.02(p<0.05)), short temper (t=-2.84, p=0.006(p<0.05)) and health consequences (t=3.36, p=0.001(p<0.05)). The ANOVA was significant between burnout negative effect among education level F (3, 108) =2.983, p= .035. However, the ANOVA was insignificant between burnout causes, effects, and preventive strategies scores and the ages of the teachers. The findings revealed that the majority of suggestions for burnout prevention fall under the category of personal changes. The study contends that though job responsibilities are high, the primary idea is that individuals have a larger role to play in preventing burnout.

Teacher Professional Development (TPD) has received global recognition as one of the most essential elements required for increasing teachers’ knowledge and skills and improving students’ learning. However, not much account has been given on the influence or otherwise of TPD since some appears ineffective in supporting changes in teacher practices and student learning. This study examined the influence of teacher professional development on teaching and learning in public Technical Institutes in the Upper West Region, Ghana.The study adopted the concurrent mixed method design, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative datasets.The study was conducted between September 2019 to September 2020 in two technical institutes, namely, St. Basilide’s Technical Institute and the Wa Technical Institute in the Nadowli-Kaleo district and Wa Municipality respectively. The study sought to find out the type of TPD that teachers in public Technical Institutes in the Upper West Region participate in; evaluate the relationship between TPD and teaching and learning; as well as assess the challenges confronting teachers relative to access to professional development programmes. Evidence was obtained through the use of interview as well as questionnaires including both open and closed ended questions and a 5-point Likert scale. A sample size of 220 was obtained from a total target population of 1,072 at 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error. Results: The findings showed that teachers in public Technical Institutes have considerable access to teacher professional development provided by the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana National Association of Teachers, Non-Governmental Organizations, Subject Associations, among others. Like the teachers, majority of the students have a very positive account about how well their teachers teach and how well they themselves are learning. It was found that a highly significant positive relationship (r (44) =.745, p˂.01 given ɑ =.01 and p-value=.000) exists between teachers’ participation in teacher professional development and teaching and learning. Furthermore, the study also showed a Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance (W) of 0.212 in the ranking of challenges or barriers affecting teacher professional development. The study contends that GES should put in place policies to encourage teachers to participate in professional development programs; the GES should also encourage and partly fund individual schools particularly technical institutes to conduct subject-based in-service training for teachers among others.

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The implication of the location of the municipality for development is, enhancing bilateral trade and commerce with Francophone countries and the Southern part of the country. Wa has the potential to grow and be upgraded into both an industrial and commercial pivot for the northwestern corridor of Ghana. In the region, one of the crafts and manufacturing industry accounted for by the Ghana census statistics (2010) included metal design and fabrication. However, in Wa Municipality, metal design fabrication has now become one of the main vocations for the people. This is because the end product of metal design and fabrication which is metalwork is now inevitable in everyday life activity of people. Labi and Ansah (2008) emphasis that production of metal works in Ghana originated from the Northerners of Ghana. This assertion cannot be disputed since various kinds of metalworks are produced in the municipality but with some exceptions which include Jewellery. This proves that there is a human resource in terms of metalwork technology available in the municipality and must be exploited (UKEssays, 2012). Upon this basis, there was the need to investigate the abilities of metal design and fabricators in Wa municipality and the philosophical ways of how the abilities could be translated into producing Jewellery to solve their Jewellery needs. 1.1. Statement of the Problem Metalwork plays tactical, strategic and distinctive role encompassing functional imperatives. They are essentially embedded in a wide-range of social needs (Holl, 2000). There are enormous varieties in African metalworks, in terms of the metals used, the techniques employed, and the objects produced (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2005). Metalwork embraces a wide area of profession; some of which include blacksmithing, goldsmithing, silversmithing, casting, welding and jewellery fabrication.

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