RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF TEACHERS IN BASIC SCHOOLS IN THE AHANTA WEST DISTRICT OF GHANA

ABSTRACT

This study was concerned with recruitment and retaining of teachers in the

Ahanta West District of the Western Region of Ghana. The highlights were on the

quantity, quality, factors that attract and those that do not attract teachers and

what could be done to retain teachers in the long run. The descriptive survey was

the research design that was used. Three questionnaires were the instruments

employed for data collection. A sample of 239 respondents was chosen out of the

population that comprised classroom teachers, circuit supervisors, basic school

heads and district education officials. After data administration, 225 respondents

returned the questionnaires collected given a return rate of94.4%.

The study revealed that indigenous teachers tend to be attracted to, and

stay in the district longer than the non-indigenous ones. With the quantity and

quality of teachers, the numbers in respect of pupil-teacher ratio is appreciable

and it stood at 37:1 as against the norm of 35:1. There was a little problem with

quality of teachers, because the non-professional ones in the district form about

30% of the teacher population. Two major factors that made teachers to stay for

long periods of time in the district were that most teachers were indigenes of the

district and the low cost of living in the district. Finally, teachers suggested that

there should be improved conditions of service for them.

Based on the findings, some recommendations were made among which

are that, more professional teachers should be posted or transferred to the district.

Besides, more indigenous teachers should be sponsored into the teacher training

colleges.