The supervisory practices of headteachers of junior high schools in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality, a case of Bosomoiso Circuit of the Western North Region

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate into the supervisory practices of headteachers of Junior High Schools in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality. Objective of the study were to identify the supervisory practices of headteachers; to explore challenges headteachers face in performing the supervisory functions and to identify strategies that the headteachers uses to improve supervision in Bosomoiso Circuit. The researcher used descriptive survey design for the study. The target population of the study was all the headteachers and teachers of the six public junior high schools Bosomoiso Circuit. Purposive sampling was used to select all the 12 headteachers. Simple random sampling was used to select 64 teachers. The researcher used closed ended questionnaire to collect data for the study. The data was processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software package version 20.0. The data was analysed with the use of frequencies and percentages. The study was conducted with both qualitative and quantitative method, executed through questionnaires. The study revealed that supervisory role performed by the headteachers were orientation of new teaching staff, checking teacher’s record of work, provision of in-service training, monitoring punctuality teachers and student, teacher motivation and lesson observation. Again, it was found out that teachers' resistance to supervision, inadequate teachers, poor human relations (teacher-supervisor relationship), inadequate material resources for teaching, political instability, irregular payment of teachers, financial constraints, lack of adequate training and support, and teachers’ perception of instructional supervision were the challenges the headteachers faces in performing the supervisory functions. The study therefore recommend that Government should intensify actions to ensure that Junior High schools teachers are provided the opportunities for re-training. This will help to improve on their instructional delivery system.