PREPARING FOR TRANSITION: A STUDY OF NEW COLLEGE PRINCIPALS’ SITUATION IN GHANA

Abstract

The importance of leadership transition in Colleges of Education in Ghana cannot be overemphasised due to its immense impact on quality teacher education and training. This requires that newly appointed principals prepare adequately for the transition. However, there is a seeming absence of research on the concept in the Ghanaian context. This qualitative study which employed the phenomenology approach, therefore, investigates how new college of education principals in Ghana prepare for the transition into their new role. The study purposively sampled ten (10) newly appointed principals of public colleges of education for the study. Interview protocol was used to collect the data for the study. The responses from participants were analysed using Colaizzi's phenomenological data analysis method. The result revealed that the newly appointed principals prepared for the transition by coping with the psychological, social and professional impacts of the new appointment to manage.  Goal setting was also paramount for their tenure of office. The study recommended that preparation prior to assumption of duty is necessary as it helps to get oneself ready for the role and for that matter the transition.