An examination of non specialist supervisors in the supervision of physical education students in the colleges of education

Abstract

This study examined the participation of non-specialist supervisors in the supervision of physical education students in the colleges of education. The study sought to find out, difference that may exist between specialist mentors and non-specialist supervisors in supervising. The impact of the teaching practice supervision on student-teachers and the challenges faced by student-teachers during the teaching practice supervision. The study adopted an interpretive phenomenological methodology using a case study approach. Purposive sampling was used to select fifty respondents. A questionnaire was used to collect data which were analysed into themes by the researcher. The study revealed that student-teachers generally were dissatisfied with the teaching practice supervision due to the inconsistencies and discriminations they perceived in it and also the general pedagogy employed. Again, on the issues of impact of the supervision, respondents expressed mixed feelings. Finally, the study revealed that student-teachers faced a number of difficulties one of which was the difficulty in getting the actual supervisors to assess them considering subject area. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the teaching practice unit should see to it that the right strategies for supervision were to be used by supervisor s. Regarding the issue of being supervised by non-subject-specialists, the teaching practice unit should ensure that supervisors who are sent for supervisions have enough knowledge of the subject-matter of the field of study.