Attaining School and Educational Goals: Duties of Headteachers of Public Basic Schools in Ghana

Abstract

Education forms the foundation for the development of human resource, making it critical for national development.  To ensure that children attain a minimum period of schooling, the government of Ghana has committed itself to a number of international protocols to provide basic education for all Ghanaian children.  Hence, many basic schools have been built throughout the country to increase access and participation.  These schools are administered in most cases by experienced teachers who serve as leaders.  The subject of ‘leadership’ has gained considerable attention, discussion, and extensive study by theorists and researchers in a number of disciplines.  This is so, especially in modern times when the concept has become complex as a result of globalization and technological advancement. School leaders are considered as pillars of the educational system, and also seen as the major agents in the promotion of school effectiveness.  This is clearly seen in the numerous functions that they are expected to perform daily and often simultaneously, thereby showing the crucial role of school leaders in establishing, monitoring and maintaining the quality and standards in education.  This paper examines the duties of headteachers of public basic schools in Ghana in attaining school and educational goals, and the challenge(s) they face in executing their duties.   The paper recommends among other things that headteachers need to improve on their knowledge and skills in school and financial administration through learning and experience, and they must be effectively monitored, supervised.  Again, the Capitation Grant (CG) policy should be evaluated, reviewed and revised so that its implementation could meet changing and current trends.

Keywords: Educational goals, school goals, headteachers, duties, public basic schools, Capitation Grant (CG)