The Challenges Of Teaching Religious Education And Their Impact On The Spiritual And Academic Formation Of Secondary School Students In Wa, Ghana

Abstract

This study aimed at finding out the challenges facing the teaching of IRE and its impact on the spiritual and academic formation of students in the SHS in Wa municipality. The study revealed that the fundamental principles of education in Islam is grounded on the principles of the Quran and the Hadith. In fact, the first revelation of the Qur'an which is chapter 96 vs 1 - 5, is a reference point stressing the importance of education in Islam. The study pointed out that education is classified into two broad categories in Islam. This are the knowledge of religious obligations (fardh'ain). Reveal knowledge is found under this category. The other category is knowledge of the universe (fardh kifayah) also known as communal obligation. This means that its obligation is on the community. Everybody has it a duty to seek for knowledge in order to earn a living. Acquired knowledge is found under this category. It is noticed that the core mandate of IRE is to ensure moral refinement and spiritual formation. IRE's aim is to model the individual to have a good character. As a discipline, IRE plays a major role in developing the natural and personal skills of students. Its content helps develop the students spiritually and academically leading to moral and character formation. The framework of the study is driven from the Quran and Ahaadith and other perspectives necessary for use. Because the number of SHS offering IRE in Wa municipality are only 6, all were selected for the study. This study considered four categories of respondents. These are IRE teachers and students, directors and managers of Islamic organisations such as as ASWAJ Movement of Ghana, ISFOUND, GMSA group of Ghana and Muslim Health Aide and curriculum planners and developers. Interviews and questionnaires were used for the data collection and the analysis was done with the help of tables of frequency distributions and percentages. The data was then synthesised and interpreted based on the outcome. The study unveiled that the biggest challenge facing the teaching and learning of IRE in the SHS in Wa municipality is the shortage of IRE teachers for the IRE subject. The other challenges include insufficient TLRs and lack of capacity building and staff development programs. There is also low number of student enrollment for the IRE because of lukewarm attitude by both the parents and the students towards the IRE subject. This study has also shown that parents encourage their wards to pursue the science oriented subjects in order to meet their demand for employment in the labour market instead of the arts including IRE. The study concluded by noting the role played by Islamic organisations in supporting the SHS IRE students in Wa municipality. They pay school fees of needy students through bursary schemes. These organisations also promote the teaching and learning of IRE by providing TLRs, sponsoring IRE students to study the course in the tertiary institutions and also by establishing schools to facilitate the learning of IRE in the Wa municipality.