Challenges in the Management of Double Final Year Examination Students of 2012 in the Senior High Schools in South Dayi District, Volta Region, Ghana

The duration of Senior High School (SHS) education was made 4 years when the 2007 Education Reform was initiated. However, in December, 2008, a change of government reverted the duration to 3 years which resulted in two final year examination classes in all senior high schools in Ghana in the 2012 / 2013 academic year. This sparked off much debates in the media and general public outcry over the consequences of the reversion. The study engaged 143 respondents comprising teachers and heads using census sampling from three second cycle schools, Peki Senior High School, Peki Senior High Technical School and Kpeve Senior High Technical in South Dayi District of the Volta Region Questionnaire was used in quantitative design. Key findings included inadequacy of dormitories, dining halls, classrooms, computer laboratories and general resources and difficulty in maintaining discipline among the students. Some strategies adopted to contain the challenges were pairing two juniors in a bed, keeping trunks and chop-boxes on dormitory corridors in order to accommodate more students in the dormitories, and combining classes for students. Recommendations included government speeding up work on on-going infrastructural projects; sourcing additional funds from donors; Parent Teacher Association supporting government's effort and building capacity of teachers on preparation of 'NO' / and 'LOW' Cost teaching to improve teaching and learning outcomes, and adequate supply of technical systems preceding implementation of future new reforms. Key words: Challenges, Reform, Double-Final-Year- Students, Headteacher, Teachers, Strategies DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/14-2-01 Publication date: May 30 th 2024