Learners’ Motivation for the Study of Ghanaian Language at Senior High School

Abstract

The study examined the motivation of learners studying Ghanaian language as an elective subject at the senior high school. The study also sought to compare the motivation of male and female learners for studying the subject as well as the gains they derive from the study of the subject. It was conducted in senior high schools in the Kumasi Metropolis. The cross-sectional survey utilised second and third-year students who had advanced in their study in the public and private senior high schools in the metropolis. A questionnaire was designed by the researcher and used for the data gathering. The statistical tools used to analyse the data are frequency counts and percentages, mean and standard deviation, and independent samples t-test. The study revealed that various factors such as the need to gain admission to tertiary institutions, the desire to understand the Ghanaian culture well and the need to be a true Ghanaian influence learners to opt for Ghanaian language as an elective subject at the senior high school. The study disclosed further that while there was a significant difference in the motivation of male and female learners in choosing Ghanaian language as an elective subject, there was no significance difference in the motivation of students who attended public and private basic schools to study the subject. Among the benefits of studying Ghanaian language while in school are the subject helps learners learn other subjects, communicate well and boost their cultural identitfy. It is recommended that basic school authorities need to encourage learners at that level to choose Ghanaian language as an elective subject of study at the senior high school and probably continue it as a programme of study at the tertiary level of education.