The Awareness Level of Inclusive School Teachers in Ghana about the Causes of Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD)

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue I, January 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

The Awareness Level of Inclusive School Teachers in Ghana about the Causes of Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD)

Emmanuel Tawiah Aboagye
 National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations, Ministry of Education, Ghana
Office Address: P.O. Box Sd 109, Stadium, Accra, Ghana

Abstract:- Inadequate knowledge, skills and competencies of some Ghanaian teachers and educators tend to make them quite unwilling to manage children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.Some inclusive school teachers do not have enough knowledge about the causes of emotional and behavioural difficulties. Therefore, in many cases children with emotional and behavioural difficulties are not supported to cope with their difficulties. Such children are even sometimes given corporal punishment which adversely affects teaching and learning. Some children do not have a good relationship with their teachers because of the way they are managed. The objective of this research was to assess awareness level of teachers who taught classes that included children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.The researcher surveyed inclusive classroom teachers from four regions in Ghana to assess their knowledge of the factors that cause emotional and behavioural difficulties in children. The data was gathered from 243 teachers. Forty per cent of teachers in each school selected was chosen for the study. The primary data used were obtained using a questionnaire containing both closed and open-ended questions. The test for consistency of the questionnaire items was done by using Cranach alpha and the result was acceptable since the Cronbach coefficient alpha was 0.78. The study revealed that most teachers do not have in-depth knowledge about the causes of emotional and behavioural problems in school children. The study recommends school-based training programmes to help teachers understand the causes of emotional behaviour difficulties in children and how to manage such difficulties.

Keywords: Teachers, awareness, children, emotional and behaviour difficulties.

I. INTRODUCTION

The way children handle emotions can be positively or negatively impacted by their biological makeup, home life, and school environment (Juneau Youth Services, 2017).The management of difficult and disruptive behaviours continue to be an issue in many classrooms (Swinson & Cording, 2002) because children with emotional and behavioural difficulties are found in many classrooms all over the world. Managing these difficult children can be an area of special encounter for educators, educational leaders, teachers and special educators.

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