Title: SCHOOL CHOICE: WHY PARENTS PREFER PRIVATE BASIC SCHOOLS FOR THE EDUCATION OF THEIR WARDS IN NANDOM
Authors:
Chrispin Kuupiel, Linus D. Nangwele and Noah K. Pufaa
Abstract:
This paper is a contribution to the understanding of school choice in the educational process in Ghana. The purpose of the study was to gain an insight into parental patronage of private basic schools for their wards’ education in Nandom in the Upper West Region of Ghana. A qualitative approach and descriptive design were employed. Interviews were used for data collection. The study was carried out in three private basic schools in Nandom at the time of this research. The schools include Royal Star Community School, FIC Jubilee School and Future Leaders International School. Apart from FIC Jubilee School, the rest are not faith-based schools. Eighteen (18) participants (including 12 parents and 6 administrators) were interviewed. Parents and administrators were purposively and conveniently sampled respectively. The study discovered that discipline, strict supervision, effective co-curricular activities, quality of education and performance of the school were factors that influenced parents’ preference for private basic schools for their wards’ education. These factors did not vary among the three private basic schools. However, when we compared parents’ special reason for their choice of school, it was realized that there exist some variations between the religious school and the non-religious schools. It is recommended that there should be intensive monitoring and supervision in, and adequate resourcing of public basic schools by government. Discipline is key to ensuring effective schools.
Keywords: School Choice, Parents, Private Basic Schools, Education, Nandom.
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