Social and Emotional Learning Competencies and Academic Achievement: A Study on Students in Senior High Schools in Ghana

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DOI: 10.21522/TIJAR.2014.03.01.Art002

Authors : Juliet Yayra Tengey

Abstract:

The concept of Social and emotional learning (SEL) is instituted on the positive youth development which promotes the needs of youth to be addressed by building backgrounds that encourage outcomes conforming to school achievement, correspondingly sympathetic relationships with adults and peers, problem solving, and civic engagement amongst others. Much focus has been on students’ achievement, thus passing examination and neglecting the other very important aspect of students’ life which are acquiring skills in problem sovling, building relationships just to mention a few. The study thus sought to examine students’ own social and emotional learning competencies (self awareness, social awareness, self-management and responsible decision making) in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions of Ghana. One hundred and thirty students constituted the sample. Eighty from Kumasi metro schools and fifty from Accra Metro schools in the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions respectively. The SELC questionnaire was used to collect data while the convenient sampling technique was used in selecting participants. Results indicated amongs others that female students scored higher on the social emotional competencies than their male counterparts.

Keywords: Social and Emotional Learning Competencies, Social and Emotional Learning, self awareness, social awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, Problem solving, Ghana.

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