MANAGING JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE SUNYANI EAST AND WEST MUNICIPALITIES (GHANA): THE CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF HEADTEACHERS AND STRATEGIES FOR THEIR PROVISION.

he study explored the continuous professional development needs of headteachers in the Sunyani east and west municipalities of Brong Ahafo Region (Ghana) and strategies for the provision of such needs. Informed by the interpretive paradigm, the study employed a case study approach. Data for the study was collected in two phases. Phase one involved a semi-structured questionnaire with 69 participants comprising 60 headteachers and 9 circuit supervisors (school inspectors in the Ghanaian educational context). The second phase also involved a semi-structured interview with 15 headteachers and 6 circuit supervisors who had responded to the initial questionnaire. The study identified barriers to effective continuous professional development of the headteachers, including incompetent resource persons, use of inappropriate methods for the delivery of the programmes, and the contents of the programmes having no bearing on areas the headteachers' needed training in. The training needs of the headteachers were also identified. The study further indicated that the training opportunities that would enable the headteachers to acquire the relevant knowledge, skills and competences included regional-based courses in leadership and management, and the formation of cluster-based working groups. Based on the findings relating to the barriers to effective continuous professional development, it was recommended, among others, that resource persons for the programmes should broaden their knowledge about the topics they handle to sustain the interest of the participants in the programmes; and T