Effects of external instructional supervision on students' performance in KCSE in public secondary schools in Rongo District, Kenya

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to investigate major effects of external instructional supervision on students' performance in KCSE in public secondary schools in Rongo District Kenya. This region comprises of sixteen public secondary school and about four well established private secondary schools. The study is also aimed at achieving the following objectives: To determine the influence of classroom observations on students' performance in KCSE in public secondary schools in Rongo District; to identify if assessment of teachers preparation of records influence students' performance in KCSE in public secondary schools; to determine whether frequency of supervision influences students' performance in KCSE in public secondary schools; to establish whether comments made by external supervisors influence students performance in KCSE in public secondary schools, lastly is to identify if scrutiny of teaching/learning resources influences performance in KCSE in public secondary schools. Five research questions were formulated to guide the study. Descriptive analysis was used in the study for the research. The findings were analyzed using the frequency tabulation and percentages.

The sample involved about 16 principals from public KCSE secondary schools 96 teachers and 2 QASOS were also used in the study. Data was collected by use of questionnaires and interviews guides. Findings revealed that QASO's classrooms observations enhanced student performance in public secondary schools, preparations and proper use of teaching records contributes to improvement in classroom performance; also the comments given by the supervisors' and the discussion held with the teachers after supervision work help teachers to realize their areas of weaknesses hence improve on them that in tum improves students performance in KCSE in public secondary schools. Lastly proper selection and use of teaching/learning resources helps in improving performance in KCSE.

It was noted that most teachers liked being supervised but only a section had a negative attitude towards supervision citing cases of frustrations at the hands of external supervisors. Other problems that negatively affects supervisory work includes: inadequate number of supervisors, communication problems and inadequate materials for conducting supervisory work. Findings also revealed that the QASO's did not visit schools frequently hence hindered effective supervisory work some teachers also suggested that QASO's should be taken for further training in order to perform their duties professionally. Lastly the researcher recommended that teaching/leaming resources like student/teacher ratio should be improved in public secondary schools in order to improve student performance in KCSE.