Examining the Electronic Media and the Promotion of Right-Age Enrolment in Kindergarten in the Ga West Municipality of Accra

Abstract

The study appraises the role of the electronic media in the promotion of right-age enrolment in kindergarten in the Ga West District of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The study employed the quantitative approach, using questionnaires as an instrument to elicit information from the respondents. The data was analyzed using SPSS software programme. The findings from the analysis of the data gathered show that though several factors contributed to parents’ enrolment of children in kindergarten, the role of the Electronic Media- specifically Television and radio in promoting right age enrolment in kindergarten is significant. The findings further revealed that there is high enrolment rate of children in kindergarten in the sampled municipality. The key factors for this high number include the agenda-setting and persuasive nature of the electronic media, and the level of importance parents place on kindergarten education. Despite the high numbers of child enrolment, some of the enrolled children are not in age-appropriate classes. Based on the above findings, the study concludes that the electronic media, which are the harbingers of change in the Ga West Municipality, have done well in creating awareness and stimulating parental enrolment of their children but there is the need for other interventions to ensure that these children are properly placed in their respective pre-school classes indexed to their ages. The study therefore recommends among others that the use of the electronic media in driving enrolment at the pre primary level should not be a one-off campaign but a periodic activity especially during the start of the new school year. The society generally and community influencers and opinion leaders should help sensitize parents to enable them send their children to kindergarten at the right age. To this end, faith-based organizations and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies as well as non-governmental organizations in the educational sector, should lead this charge. School authorities must also consider organizing Open Days for parents to serve as parental reminders whilst teachers and school heads must ensure that the children are appropriately placed in their classes when they enrolled. Finally, other channels of mass communication media- such as print, digital, Out-of-Home and community activations should be massively used to promote right-age enrolment in KG, not only in Ga West, but in the entire country.