Profiles of High School Heads and Readiness to Address Problems of Practice

Abstract

An ex post facto design using independent samples t-test was conducted to find out if differences exist in the profiles of high school heads in their readiness to address problems of practice. Questionnaire was used to collect data from the study respondents consisting of heads of senior high schools in Ghana who were selected by simple random sampling technique. Data collected were analyzed by testing hypotheses that utilized independent samples t test procedure.Major findings reported in the study showed that there was statistically significant difference in respondents’ readiness to address problems of practice. Respondents who had taken graduate level courses in educational administration showed more readiness to address problems of practice than those who have not taken graduate level courses in educational administration. Also, respondents who have served as assistant heads showed more readiness to address problems of practice that those who have not served as assistant heads. A key recommendation was that the Ghana Education Service should consider including in the requirement to become a high school head a graduate level courses in educational administration and experience as assistant head.

Keywords: Educational Administrator preparation, School administration, Problems of practice, School improvement,