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Why do teachers become assistant principals? What role do assistant principals play in schools? Do assistant principals perceive their role as a career commitment or a stepping stone up the career ladder? These are some of the questions this study sought to answer. The purpose of the study was to investigate the perceptions of selected high school assistant principals on the assistant principalship as a career. As society´s demands on school systems continue to increase, the assistant principal´s role continues to be all the more important and relevant in the school system. However, one wonders what the incumbents who experience the day to day challenges of the position think of the assistant principalship. Respondents of this qualitative study indicated that love for children, the desire to look after teachers, the opportunity to bring about change and make a difference in people´s lives were some of the reasons that attracted them to the position of assistant principal.

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Ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1988, Joseph Nsiah has served as assistant pastor and pastor in parishes in Ghana and in Saskatchewan, Canada. He holds both a Doctoral and Masters degrees in Educational Administration from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. He is currently Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese, Jasikan, Ghana.

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