Conflict among Teachers in Junior High Schools in a Developing Country

Abstract

The study examined the causes and effects of conflict on teachers' performance in the Tema metropolis of Ghana. Research design used was descriptive survey, with the main data collection instrument being questionnaire.  Data was collected from a sample of three hundred and five (305) respondents who were randomly and purposively selected. The data was analysed using SPSS. The results indicate that conflicts were caused by personal and structural factors. The dominant personal factor was differences in perception whilst the dominant structural factor was sharing of common and limited resources. Furthermore, findings indicate that negative effects of conflict were higher than positive effects. The dominant conflict management strategy adopted was integrating whilst compromising was the least adopted. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Ghana Education Service (GES) should organise workshops, seminars and other educational programmes on conflict for teachers.

Keywords: Conflict, Causes of conflict, Effects of conflict, Strategies for managing conflict