Early Childhood Teachers’ Role in Ensuring a Safe Environment During Teaching in Early Childhood Centers During Covid-19: A Phenomenological Study in Effutu Municipality

Abstract

The study explored the role early childhood teachers played in ensuring a safe environment during the Covid-19 in the Effutu Municipality. A phenomenological study design was employed for the study. The study adopted purposive sampling using a homogeneous sampling technique to select 15 kindergarten teachers within Ghana’s Effutu Municipality. A semi-structured interview guide was used for the collection of data. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic had varying impacts on teachers in early care centres. Positive and negative effects were identified, which are consistent with previous research. The study also discovered that teachers in early childhood centres played a significant role in maintaining a safe environment during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study thus recommends to the Effutu Municipality Ghana Education Directorate to provide training and support to enhance teachers' digital competencies through professional development programmes and online training courses. Secondly, policy guidelines should be established to prioritize health and safety measures within early childhood centres, including social distancing, regular cleaning, and adequate provision of cleaning materials. Lastly, there should be efforts to encourage parental engagement by providing information, resources, and support to parents, and promoting resilience and adaptability among teachers through training and professional development programs.