Leadership Roles of School Leaders and Directors of Education amid the Covid-19 pandemic: The Crisis, Adaptation, and Opportunities
Kwame BediakoAsare, Ph.D.; Raymond ChegeduaTangonyire, SJ, Ph.D.; AminaJangu Alhassan, Ph.D.; Gloria Nyame, Ph.D. & Irene Jacquelinda Attabra, M. Phil.
Abstract
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana in March 2020 resulted in the closure of schools at all levels of education, disrupting academic work. However, when the infection rate reduced, there was the need for the government of Ghana to re-open schools. This paper explored the reality of leading educational institutions in a crisis such as the unexpected coronavirus pandemic. The study employed the qualitative research strategy to explore views from leaders of pre-tertiary institutions to gain insights into their challenges, leadership actions, and learning opportunities during the pandemic. Fifteen pre-tertiary school heads and Directors of Education were selected using the convenience sampling technique. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews via phone calls and analysed thematically using inductive and deductive approaches. The study found that leaders of educational institutions faced the challenge of scarcity of resources and students' non-compliance to established protocols aimed to ensure the safety of students and staff. Nevertheless, it was discovered that calm resilience, flexibility, optimism, leadership distribution, and effective communication helped the leaders succeed. The findings also showed that the COVID-19 crisis created an opportunity for reflection and learning.