PREDICTORS OF SCHOOL CHOICE: THE CASE OF PARENTS IN CAPE COAST, GHANA

Authors

  • Abdul-Jaleel Saani PhD, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
  • James Amonoo Sam Jonah Library, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v8i8.3880

Keywords:

family factors, institutional factors, school choice, social factors, parents’ choice

Abstract

We identified the pertinent factors affecting parents’ choice of a particular senior high school (SHS) in Ghana, focusing on parents with at least one child in a SHS in Ghana and are residents of Cape Coast. The approach and design used were quantitative and descriptive survey design respectively. A sample of 637 of the parents, made up of 349 women and 288 men, was used. The parents were selected using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. A questionnaire, with a reliability coefficient ranging from 0.735 – 0.829, was the instrument used to collect the data. Out of the 637 parents sampled, we were able to retrieve 588 completed questionnaires, representing 92.3 percent response rate. The data were analysed using cross tabulation and linear multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that parents preferred public boarding SHS which is single-sex education. Also, parents preferred schools with excellent academic record, quality instruction, and positive school values. Similarly, family/parental related factors such as family moral and religious values, and parents’ income and education levels, and also social related factors such as school popularity and brand, peer influence, and social network predict significantly and positively parents’ choice of a particular SHS. We conclude that school, family and social related factors are able to influence parents’ school choice. It is recommended to heads of SHSs to be attentive to the various institutional factors and create schools that address the needs of the parents in their communities in order to attract and retain students. 

 

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Author Biographies

  • Abdul-Jaleel Saani, PhD, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
    Abdul-Jaleel Saani, who is the corresponding author, is a lecturer in the Department of Education and Psychology, University of Cape Coast. He is an educational sociologist interested in educational issues that are social in character and nature. His research interest include education and politics, education and social stratification, equity and quality issues in education, gender issues in education and development, socio-philosophical issues in education, school culture and climate, and school governance. He has a number of published research works in the area of educational sociology.
  • James Amonoo, Sam Jonah Library, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
    James Amonoo is a principal library assistant at Sam Jonah Library, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Quite apart from being a librarian, he has published some works in the area of educational sociology.

References

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Published

2021-08-06

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 8 (2021)

Section

Articles

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