Exploring the Information Literacy Skills Development Strategies of Senior High Schools in Tolon District of Ghana

Authors

  • DAWUDA ISSAH University for Development Studies image/svg+xml
  • HARDI UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES LIBRARY, TAMALE, GHANA (UDS)
  • ABDUL-MAJEED TAMALE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, TAMALE, GHANA
  • HAFIZ BAGABAGA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, TAMALE, GHANA
  • JOSEPH St. Francis College of Education, Hohoe, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23974/ijol.2025.vol10.1.401

Abstract

This research paper delves into the Information Literacy (IL) skill development strategies implemented by Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Tolon District of Northern Ghana. The study employs a phenomenological approach and qualitative method to explore the perspectives of students, teaching staff, and management within these institutions. Through purposive sampling and focus group interviews, the research investigates both the institutional and individual efforts in enhancing IL skills of students. The findings illuminate the proactive measures taken by SHS management, including fresh students’ orientation programs and dedicated library time and creation of conducive learning environment. There is no IL course in the curriculum of the SHS. The findings further reveal that teaching staff, recognizing the significance of IL, employ varied strategies to enhance students' IL skills. Despite these efforts, a noteworthy challenge emerges: teaching staff lack the requisite IL skills. Finally, students of these institutions rely on Google, teachers, parents and colleagues for the needed information. The research recommends a holistic approach to IL education, incorporating policy reforms, teacher training programs, and targeted interventions to address the identified challenges.

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Author Biographies

  • DAWUDA ISSAH, University for Development Studies

    Dawuda Issah is a staff in the Library department of University for Development Studies. His field of study is Library and Information Studies. He hold Mphil in this field.

  • HARDI, UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES LIBRARY, TAMALE, GHANA (UDS)

    Mr Hardi is a practicing librarian at the University for Development Studies Library. He is the head for Tamale Teaching Hospital library, a branch library of UDS library. He has Masters in Library and Information Studies from University of Ghana.

  • ABDUL-MAJEED, TAMALE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, TAMALE, GHANA

    Abdul-Majeed is a staff of Tamale Technical University library staff in Ghana. He has Masters in library and Information Studies from University of Ghana. He is currently a PhD student at the University of Malaya in Malaysia.

  • HAFIZ, BAGABAGA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, TAMALE, GHANA

    Mr Hafiz is the current librarian for Bagabaga College of Education library. He holds Masters in Library and Information Studies from University of Ghana.

  • JOSEPH, St. Francis College of Education, Hohoe, Ghana

    Mr Joseph is the current acting librarian for St. Francis College of Education library in Hohoe. He holds Masters in Library and information Studies from university of Ghana and currently, he is pursuing PhD at the University of South Africa.

References

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Osunrinade O. A. (2018). Demographic Factors, Information Literacy Skills and Media Resources’Utilisation among Secondary School Students in Ogun State, Nigeria. Journal of Information and Knowledge Management, 9(3), 1-17.

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UNESCO. (2014). Effective Literacy and Numeracy Practices Database: Ghana. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/uil/litbase/?menu=14&country=GH

Yeboah, P., Dadzie P. S. & Owusu-Ansah C. M. (2017). This study explored the IL skills of secondary school students in Ghana with specific focus on students’ abilities in finding and evaluating information. Library philosophy.

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Published

2025-03-31

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Featured Articles

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How to Cite

Exploring the Information Literacy Skills Development Strategies of Senior High Schools in Tolon District of Ghana. (2025). International Journal of Librarianship, 10(1), 89-102. https://doi.org/10.23974/ijol.2025.vol10.1.401