Student Support Services In The Colleges Of Education In The Central Region, Ghana

Abstract

This study sought to explore the available services Colleges of Education in the Central Region provide to students. The convergent parallel mixed method design was deemed more appropriate for the study. The study used students, tutors and service personnel in all the Colleges of Education as the case to ascertain the availability of student support services. The study used two instruments (Student Support Service Questionnaire and Tutor/Personnel Interview Guide) to obtain data from 366 respondents (students=354, tutors/personnel=12). Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, and means) and thematic analysis were used to analyse data. The study sought to answer three research questions. The study revealed that Colleges of Education in the Central Region provide a number of student support services such as guidance and counselling, academic advising, residence, orientation, and health services. The study further showed that student is utilising support services in various forms, from resolving emotional difficulties and getting over their personal problems, seeking care for acute illnesses, treatment for colds and viruses, and accessing safe, comfortable, and well maintained and supportive on-campus accommodation. Furthermore, the study revealed that student services are hindered by challenges preventing their effectiveness. These challenges include fear of being ridiculed by peers/colleagues, personnel of student services not approachable, and fear of being ridiculed by personnel at the student support services. The study recommended that management of Colleges of Education should intensify efforts to raise awareness, accessibility, and benefits of student support services through informational campaigns, frequent workshops, and orientation programmes.