Exploring economics teachers’ efficacy beliefs in the teaching of economics

Abstract

This study explored Economics teachers’ efficacy beliefs in the teaching of Economics. The quantitative research approach was adopted for the study with focus on the descriptive cross-sectional survey design. In total, 125 Senior High School Economics teachers were selected for the study. The Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale was adapted as the data collection instrument for the study. Both descriptive statistics (e.g. means and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (MANOVA) were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that Economics teachers were more efficacious in instructional strategies (M = 4.14, SD = .94) compared to classroom management (M = 4.04, SD = .97) and student engagement (M = 4.03, SD = .98). Also, it was found out that there was a statistically significant difference in Economics teachers’ efficacy in the teaching of Economics based on their teaching experience. However, the study revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in the Economics teachers’ efficacy based on school proprietorship and school location. Therefore, it was recommended that Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Education and Non-Governmental Organisations should continue to organise professional development programmes for teachers to ensure a continuous, progressive and consistent high efficacy level of Economics teachers. Also, private and public SHS headmasters should organise in-service training and professional development programmes for SHS teachers to further enrich their efficacy level. In the organisation of professional development programmes and seminars for teachers, equal attention should be given to rural and urban teachers.