Mathematics and science teachers’ cultural beliefs about giftedness and gifted students’ education in Ghana

Journal article

Allotey, Gladys Ami, Watters, James Joseph, King, Donna and Anamuah-Mensah, Jophus. (2024). Mathematics and science teachers’ cultural beliefs about giftedness and gifted students’ education in Ghana. Gifted Education International. 40(2), pp. 196-213. https://doi.org/10.1177/02614294241247631
AuthorsAllotey, Gladys Ami, Watters, James Joseph, King, Donna and Anamuah-Mensah, Jophus
Abstract

This study delves into the cultural perspectives surrounding gifted education practices in Ghana, focusing on 10 junior high school classroom mathematics and science teachers. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analysis of lesson plans. The results brought to light a notable gender disparity of female participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-intensive courses compared to males. Teachers’ beliefs concerning giftedness tended to be tacitly naive, rooted in traditional notions and influenced gifted students’ development. Spiritual and supernatural giftedness emerged, perceiving the gifted to possess mystical powers. Implications underscore the implementation of gifted education within teacher educational institutions. This, in turn, addresses the tacit opinions and knowledge gaps among educators regarding gifted education in Ghana. The study advocates for a holistic approach to nurturing giftedness that extends beyond conventional academic realms, ensuring a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape.

Keywordsgiftedness; socio-cultural beliefs; mystical-naïve beliefs; gifted education; intellectual capital
Year2024
JournalGifted Education International
Journal citation40 (2), pp. 196-213
PublisherSAGE Publications
ISSN0261-4294
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/02614294241247631
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85190762876
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderGhana Education Trustfund (GETFUND)
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online17 Apr 2024
Publication process dates
Deposited09 Mar 2025
Additional information

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the Sage and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

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