The role of headteachers in instructional supervision in public secondary schools in Mwala division- Machakos district, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to find out the role of head teachers in instructional

supervision in public secondary schools of :Mwala division in Machakos

district. The study was carried out in the areas of staffing, consultation with

teachers, school programme development and evaluation of teachers'

instructional performance.

The study employed a descriptive survey design with 15 public secondary schools forming the target population.

Random sampling was used in

selecting the respondents who included 15 head teachers and 180 teachers.

The District Education officer was also included in the study. Data was

collected using questionnaire and key informant interview schedule. The

data was analyzed using the spss package. Both inferential and statistical

analysis procedures were employed for data analysis while descriptive statistics were reported using frequencies, means and percentages.The results were reported using frequency tables. The study established that the head teachers effectively undertook instructional supervision except in the evaluation of teachers' classroom performance. Teachers concurred to this. According to the findings of the study, all secondary school head teachers require proper training 1n educational administration. Secondary school head teachers should as far as possible receive pre-service training in educational administration before being appointed to head secondary schools. However, due to lack of adequate manpower, time and resources, in-service programmes should be drawn up, adopted and intensified by the l'v1inistry of Education and the Kenya Education Staff Institute. There is need to increase the level of educational training of the secondary school headteachers and the teachers particularly those with S1 qualifications. The headteachers should work towards a master's degree because this will facilitate prov1s10n of sound professional guidance to teachers and enhance teachers' confidence in the head teacher as an educational leader.Secondary school head teachers should allow their teachers to participate more 111 the organization and the administration of the school. In the process of delegating responsibilities the head teacher will be relieved off the daily routine work so that they can have more time for range planning. The study concluded that instructional supervision is a very significant role of head teachers for better performance in schools and hence recommended that head teachers needed to be equipped with thorough knowledge of instructional supervision.This can be done through regular in-service courses.