Circuit supervisors and headteachers supervisory practices in public basic schools at the Oforikrom Municipal Education Directorate, Kumasi

Abstract

This study investigated circuit supervisors and head teachers’ supervisory practices in public basic schools at the Oforikrom Municipal Education Directorate, Kumasi. The descriptive survey design was adopted. The study population was 642 comprising 599 teachers, 39 head teachers and 4 circuit supervisors. Simple random sampling was used to select 200 teachers and 20 schools and purposive sampling procedure was used to select 39 head teachers and four circuit supervisors. The researcher used questionnaire to collect data. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics with SPSS version 20 software. The study found out that inspection was the type of supervision that was practiced and emphasized in the municipal followed by training and guidance. The study also showed that head teachers supervisory activities influenced and facilitated better teaching and learning. Challenges of supervision identified were lack of logistics, equipment and materials, teachers’ failure to heed to advice, low follow-up visits, inadequate INSET for teachers, head teachers and circuit supervisors and teachers’ problem of underrating the competencies of supervisors. The study recommends that the GES and the Oforikrom Municipal Education Directorate should organize frequent INSET for the teachers, head teachers and circuit supervisors to enhance instructional practice. Also, the supervision department of the Municipal Education Directorate be strengthened and well-resourced to facilitate effective supervision and inspection in the municipality.