Adjustment challenges, coping methods and solutions suggested by colleges of education students in Eastern Region, Ghana

Abstract

The study explored adjustment challenges, coping methods and suggested solutions among Colleges of Education students in Eastern Region, Ghana. A 42- item questionnaire adapted from Baker and Siryk’s Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ) was used with 320 respondents sampled for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse research questions and hypotheses. The three adjustment challenges found were worry about finances, intellectually demanding at college than high school and difficulty of being responsible. The study revealed that students adjusted better through study groups, motivation from colleagues, having prior knowledge about the college, support from family members. It was revealed that males and females do not differ in terms of the adjustment challenges they encounter. There was no significant difference in the coping methods used by students in Colleges of Education in Eastern Region of Ghana based on gender. There was significant difference among the three programmes of study. The B.Ed JHS programme differed from the other programmes of study due to more experience of adjustment challenges. In view of the above results, it was recommended that government should pay allowances on time to curb students’ worry about finances. Family members should also support their wards financially in colleges to ameliorate the worries students go through as a result of insufficient financial challenges. Group studies should be encouraged by tutors in the classroom/lecture halls to help students adjust better. School authorities and tutors should focus their attention more on ways to assist students on the B. Ed JHS programmes, to enable them better adjust to their studies in their respective Colleges of Education.