Training and Professional Development Practices for Employees in the Ghana Education Service

This study sought to investigate the training and professional development practices for the employees in the Ghana Education Service. The study focused on identifying the training and development needs of employees of the selected schools, ascertaining the training and development policy in operation of the selected schools, ascertaining the type of training employees undergo and finally, examining the effects of training and development on employees performance. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The target population for this study included the teaching and non-teaching staff in the selected schools. Employees were chosen through simple random sampling whereby 318 employees were selected to participate in the study. Questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect primary data from employees of the service. The study revealed that identifying the training needs from the employees perspective, the organization can measure the performances of individual employees. The Ghana Education Service employs pre-service training as a means of training employees. Pre-service training is a process through which individuals are made ready to enter a certain kind of professional job such as colleges of education. Distance learning run by the public and private tertiary universities, sandwich education programmes and study leave with or without pay are utilised by employees to enhance their performance. The study recommends institution of more tailor made professional development programmes by GES for its employees to enhance their performance.