Challenges in the Implementation of Free Quality Education (FQE) on Teaching and Learning in Junior Secondary Schools in Bonthe Municipality

The purpose of this study is to unearth the challenges in the implementation of the Free Quality Education (FQE) on teaching and learning in junior secondary schools in Bonthe municipality. This study targets an estimated number of hundred (100) principals and teachers drawn from five (5) junior secondary schools in Bonthe municipality; and hundred (100) parents whose children are attending the aforementioned schools. A purposive sampling technique was used to examine the total population of head teachers and principals whilst a simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents from the hundred (100) parents in the survey. The findings of the study shows that lack of sitting accommodation due to increase in the enrolment rate, lack of accurate, timely and reliable data and the lack of trained and qualified teachers to meet the current influx of teacher pupil ratio of 1:45 are all challenges that has the tendency to contribute to the poor performance of pupils in both internal and public examination. The study recommends that the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) and the Bonthe municipal council, provide additional sitting accommodation to junior secondary schools in Bonthe municipality. Government through its institutions responsible for education and interested partners should raise awareness on the importance of data for radical transformation in the education sector. Recruit measurement and evaluation officers, promote training and support for the use and sharing of reliable data in schools and also, recruit and deploy more trained and qualified teachers, encourage remittent training, retention and professional development of teachers.