Muslim community participation in basic education in the Techiman municipality of Brong Ahafo region

Abstract

The researcher sought to find out the extent to which the Muslim Community of the Techiman Municipality participates in the development of basic education. The population for the study comprised heads and teachers of basic schools, chiefs and elders, parents, as well as education officers of the Techiman Municipality. The distribution of the sample for the study included 100 parents, 40 basic school teachers and heads, 5 municipal education officers, and 30 chiefs and elders, making a total of 175 respondents. Purposive sampling was used to select heads, education officers, and chiefs and elders. Teachers were randomly selected. Parents were also randomly selected through their wards in the Islamic basic schools. Questionnaires were the main instruments used for gathering data. The questionnaires consisted mostly of open-ended and a few closed-ended items. The instruments were pilot-tested in the Wenchi District in the Brong Ahafo Region; as it has similar characteristics as the Techiman municipality. The findings of the study showed that the Muslim communities in the Techiman municipality participated in basic school development by sending their children to school. They attend communal labour to help provide school infrastructure, take part in decision-making through the PTA and raise funds to support community school projects. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended, among others, that Ghana Education Service need to constantly organize massive education campaign and seminars to the community members on the need to participate in the development of basic education.