ACCRA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................... 4
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 4
Background of Study ................................................................................................................ 4
Problem Statement .................................................................................................................... 6
Hypothesis .................................................................................................................................. 6
Research Questions ................................................................................................................... 7
Aim.............................................................................................................................................. 7
Specific objectives ...................................................................................................................... 7
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ...................................................................... 8
Materials and Methods ............................................................................................................. 8
Materials .................................................................................................................................... 8
Study Area .............................................................................................................................. 8
Research Design......................................................................................................................... 9
Sample size ............................................................................................................................... 10
Sampling Procedure and Collection of Data ........................................................................ 10
Research Instruments ............................................................................................................. 10
Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 11
Expected Outcome................................................................................................................... 11
Benefits ..................................................................................................................................... 11
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of Study
Natural lighting was the primary source of illumination in buildings for several years until the late
nineteenth century, when artificial lighting was discovered. Architects and building planners
considered the importance of natural lighting inside buildings during the last quarter of the
twentieth century and the first years of the twenty-first century. Recently, daylight has become
increasingly critical in reducing energy usage in buildings and improving indoor air quality.
Light has long been a dominant force in human practices. Many attempts have been made in both
developed and developing countries to construct buildings that use a high proportion of natural
light. Lighting up spaces in buildings costs a lot of money, almost as much as the cost of the
building itself. The cost of electricity in Ghana in 2002 was 6 US cents per kWh (Winterbottom &
Wilkins, 2009). If natural lighting is prioritized in building projects, the tremendous expense of
energy may be reduced. In fact, natural lighting provides a natural view of materials. Natural light
has psychological and physiological impacts on building users and, as such, should be carefully
observed when planning (Isser, 2005). Natural or daytime light is often said to more closely match
the vision reaction that humans have evolved to equate to all other light (Edwards & Torcellini,
2002).
According to the National Clearinghouse for Education (NCEF) report, there is a clear and
established correlation between Lightning and student achievement. "Do School Facilities Have
an Effect on Academic Outcomes?" According to the NCEF survey, there are seven independent
reports showing that classroom lighting impacts student success. These studies further show that
there are ideal lightning standards for studying, that proper lighting increases test scores and
decreases bad conduct, and that daylight promotes higher pupil achievement. Clearly, proper
lighting is an important part of teaching and learning (Morrow & Kanakri, 2018).”
The physical environment and construction conditions have a general impact on teaching and
learning, as well as students' academic success. Several experiments have shown that the buildings
in which students spend a significant amount of their time have a significant impact on their
learning (Earthman, 2004). Instead of only being practical, schools must build a space that can
draw pupils (Bunting, 2004). These researchers argued on the important role lightning plays in
most educational facilities which is a bit problematic in most Ghanaian schools.
Due to the impact Lightning has on physiology, a school with inadequate light will reduce a
student's ability to learn. Poor spectral light can trigger eyestrain, resulting in reduced information
processing and learning capacity as well as increased stress(Heinrich, n.d.). Providing the required
level of lighting, as well as consistent delivery of light with an ungeared effect, is critical for a
comfortable indoor classroom setting. The lighting in the classroom should be adequate for student
tasks such as writing and reading on study tables and blackboards or boards on the wall. Glare
management is an important concern in the classroom, particularly with regard to direct sunlight
penetration.
Moreover, other scholars focused on the impact of environmental factors such as lighting on the
learning process. (Zainuddin et al., 2016) proposed that facets of lighting are needed to achieve a
state of ‘‘flow" (Winterbottom & Wilkins, 2009) proposed that broad spectrum fluorescent
lighting can aid learning; (Datta, 2014) proposed that daylight helps students remember and absorb
information; and
(Boampong et al., 2015) investigated the value of preventing artificial
illumination. Some scholars emphasize the importance of daylighting, but the need for integrated
structures of natural and artificial illumination is widely acknowledged (Burns, 2011)
This study seeks to investigate the various lightning in schools in Adabraka a community in the
Accra Metropolis.
Problem Statement
According to (Gonçalves, 2016), “lighting conditions in the majority of schools are below
recommended guidelines, and the normalized values are more representative in workplaces with
general and localized lighting.” Poor lighting and a lack of attention to improving lighting facilities
or using daylight are critical problems that many schools and learning environments face
(Rzepczynski, 2002). In Ghana, most of the public schools rely on sunlight but face greater
challenges when it rains or when it gets cloudy. The poor lighting systems in most basic schools
in Ghana play a major role in the efficiency of the day to day performance of the students.
Poor windows, poor structural designs are the main characteristics of school buildings in Ghana
especially Accra since the demand for basic education is on the rise for the highly populated central
district of Accra with Adabraka been of no exception. Studies by (Samani, 2011) indicated that
when students have a classroom that have not well control of windows and lighting students‟
performance is negatively affected. This study aims to evaluate the lighting in classrooms due to
the use of designed blocks as windows.
Hypothesis
Alternative hypothesis h1: Climatic conditions in many schools, such as lightning, have a severe
impact on the academic achievement of students in various primary schools around the Adabraka
metropolitan.
Null hypothesis h0: Environmental conditions have no effects on the academic performance of
pupils in various basic schools.
Research Questions
1. Do the use of designed blocks as windows have effects on the lighting of classrooms in
schools at Adabraka suburb of Accra?
2. Do poor lightning in various schools classrooms in Adabraka influence the academic
performance of pupils?
3. What are various forms of lightning systems used by schools in Adabraka?
Aim
To evaluate the lighting in classrooms due to the use of designed blocks as windows.
Specific objectives
1. To identify the types of schools that’s, private and public
2. To identify the type of lightning used in the various classrooms
3. To identify the type of windows used in the various classrooms
4. To determine the area of window per classroom
5. To assess the type of desk and floor used in the classrooms
6. To measure the LUX using a Lux meter
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
Materials and Methods
This chapter descibles the outline of the Study, Procedures, and Techniques, as well as basic
instruments, tools, and chemicals used in this research.
Materials

Tape measure

Lux meter

Rule

Exercise book

Pens and pencils

Questionnaire template
Study Area
This study was carried out within the Accra Metropolis precisely Adabraka. Adabraka is a town
in the Korley Klottey Municipal Assembly, a Municipality of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
It was the first and the poshest colony in Ghana during the British era. Adabraka is a made of the
educated Ga’s where most of them are civil servants and successful business men and woman. Due
to the urbanization, there are all kinds of Ghanaian ethnic groups now residing in Adabraka.
Adabraka was known for the School. The school is a second cycle institution, but the school has
relocated to Okpoi Gonno at Teshie. The University of Ghana City Campus is also located in
Adabraka. There about 30 private and public basic schools in Adabraka. Adabraka is an urban
township where by education is very paramount. The Accra Psychiatry Hospital is located in
Adabraka. Adabraka also has polyclinic called Adabraka Polyclinic, which is just opposite the
Accra Psychiatry Hospital. The Accra Rehabilitation Centre is also located in Adabraka, along the
Barnes Road The map below gives a graphical location of Adabraka within the Accra metropolis.
The popular Citi FM and Citi Tv are located in Adabraka. The map below gives the geographical
location of Adabraka in the Accra Metropolis.
Research Design
A research design expresses the mutual efforts of the major parts of the research project in the
solution of research question. The study will be based on the descriptive survey design. The main
thrust of survey design will be to collect appropriate data which work as a base for getting results
and drawing conclusion.
Sample size
The sample size will involve surveying schools within the Adabraka township. The survey will
involve measurements of windows size, type of windows used, type of floor, type of lightings in
the classrooms, and type of desk used by students in the various classrooms. Ten schools in general
will be surveyed within the township to gather the data. 6 public and 4 private schools will be
surveyed in the Adabraka township. Variables will be assigned to the schools namely; S001, S002,
S003, S004, S005, S006, S007, S008, S009 and S010. Table 1 and 2 show the selected schools
and their assigned variables
Sampling Procedure and Collection of Data
The researcher will use purposive sampling method in selecting the schools in Adabraka. The
schools included in the sample will serve as the participants of the research. Each school included
in the sample will be evaluated and profiled by the researcher according to the indicators of lux
meter, windows size, type of windows used, type of floor, type of lightings in the classrooms, and
type of desk used by students in the various classrooms. The researcher first will assess the
windows type used by school either they were wooden, louvre frames (glass or wooden), metallic
or just shutters. Type of lighting used in the various classrooms will also be evaluated thus either
the light source will be electricity or sunlight or usage of both. The floor types will also be taking
into consideration where most were cemented, tiled or the use of tarazzo. Finally, the types of desk
used by the students will also be evaluated to ascertain if they will be mono or dual.
Research Instruments
Data collection instruments are the tools that the researcher used to collect data. The instruments
that will be used in the study are the questionnaires, visual objections and measurements using
tape measure. The area of windows per classroom will be measured using a tape measure. Visual
observation will be used to determine the type of lighting, type of window, floor type and type of
desk.
Questionnaires will be given to both teachers and students to get more information on the effects
of poor or proper lighting in schools especially in classrooms. The main topic will be centered on
cloudy days, raining days, light out times and normal sunshine day.
Data Analysis
Descriptive statistics will be utilized in SPSS and Excel to arrange survey data into tables and
graphs. Total scores, percentage distribution, mean, and standard deviation will be examined.
Inferential statistics from data samples will be utilized to develop general assertions and
inferences about participants' ideas, perceptions, and insights.
Expected Outcome
The study is anticipated to shed additional information on the learning environment in Ghanaian
primary schools, particularly the lighting systems and their impact on day-to-day school activities.
The study will be anticipated to determine the impact of windows, different types of lighting,
different types of flooring, and different types of desks used in the various basic schools in
Adabraka Township.
Benefits
The study will provide policymakers with greater information on the environmental conditions in
Ghanaian primary schools. It will also aid in the development and construction of new classrooms
for students, with a focus on the lighting system, which plays an important role in students'
academic success.
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