Conflict among Headteachers and Teachers: Are They Critical to Student Academic Performance in Ghanaian Public Basic Schools

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of conflict among headteachers and teachers on the academic performance of public basic school students in Kanda Custer of schools. Descriptive design was used for the study. A sample of 454 (5 headteachers, 50 teachers and 399 students) was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The study found that: interpersonal, intra-group, inter-group and intrapersonal conflicts were the conflicts that occurred between headteachers and teaching staff. Also, major causes of conflicts identified were misappropriation or embezzlement of funds by my headteacher, indiscipline in the school, and administrative incompetence of headteachers, teachers' attempt to force their values on other teachers, teacher-student relationship and conflict of interest. More so, mechanisms used to resolve conflicts included compromise, accommodating style, avoidance and cconfrontation. It was concluded that different types of conflicts existed among teachers and headteachers in the school. Also, conflicts can be causes misappropriation of funds, indiscipline in the school, and administrative incompetence of headteachers, Mechanisms used to resolve conflicts included compromise, accommodating style, avoidance and cconfrontation. It was recommended that in-service training should be organised by circuit supervisors and school counsellors for headteachers and teaching staffs on causes, effects and mechanism to resolve conflicts.