A comparative study of teaching and learning processes of the Visual Arts in selected Senior High Schools in Urban and Rural settings in Ashanti Region, Ghana.
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Date
2009-07-18
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Abstract
A number of arguments have been made concerning teaching and learning in Ghana.
The available studies suggest that environment has a positive relationship with
academic performance and achievement although limited information on how
location of school affects academic performance of students in the Visual Arts exists.
This study adopted the qualitative and quantitative research methods with interview,
observation and questionnaire administration to identify the factors that affect
teaching and learning processes, and students‟ academic performance in the Visual
Arts in urban, peri-urban and rural Senior High Schools in the Ashanti Region. Using
the purposive and simple random sampling techniques, a sample of six schools - two
in each setting, 138 respondents comprising 120 students and 18 teachers were
selected for in-depth study. Data collected were analyzed with SPSS 16 (2007
edition) and processed into tables and frequency graphs. The study found that urban
schools perform better than rural schools because they have prestigious names and
character, more qualified teachers, and attract and admit high performance BECE
applicants into the Visual Arts department. Students in these well-endowed schools
have clear advantages over their colleagues in the peri-urban and rural schools which
are less endowed and therefore attract average performing candidates. Significantly,
the performance of students in the peri-urban and rural schools was found to be the
same. While the personality behind the name of a school influences academic
achievement of its students, the study revealed that the communities in which a
school is located and educational opportunities they have also directly influence the
academic performance and achievement of its students. Environmental factors, lack
of studio facilities, and differences in teaching methodologies in the different
geographic settings seem to have some influence on students‟ learning and
performance in the final examinations.
Description
A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi,in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of arts in Art Education on September.