Streetism and its Implications on Learning at the Basic Schools in Somanya, Ghana

Abstract: This study investigates the streetism phenomenon and its implications on learning and interventions to enhance the learning of the street children at the basic school. Qualitative research design and phenomenological study method was adopted for the study. Two research questions were answered. A sample of 20 respondents were selected from five public basic schools in Somanya in the Yilo Krobo municipal of Ghana.

The data collection process involve interview, using interview guide with the elicitation of relevant information from interviewees. Data was analysed through the thematic content analysis which involves transcribing data and reading through it for issues or inconsistencies, after which transcribed data was captured into the NVIVO software. The software allows ordering, categorisation, and organisation of data collected into the set objectives of the study. The study revealed that street children are often not punctual and irregular at school; are often apathetic towards learning and they lack concentration in classroom.  The study revealed interventions such as government introducing poverty alleviation programs, organization of private counselling by school for parents and street children on the relevance of education and dealing with teachers with negative attitude towards street children in the school as ways of enhancing the learning ability of street children in Somanya.   The study recommended that: government and stakeholders of education should continually make arrangement to cater for the physical and academic needs of street children in the form of relevant intervention programs orchestrated including the ones revealed by the study to reduce the ills of the poor parenting, poverty and negative attitude of teachers.