Role of headteachers as supervisors on educational quality in Public secondary schools in Teso District

Abstract

Effective school supervision requires a high level of leadership. Good schools are judged on the basis of their good academic performance which is achieved through effective supervision and implementation of the curriculum. With the rapid expansion and change in the education system, quality control of education has been an issue of great concern. The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of head teachers as supervisors on educational quality in public secondary schools in Teso District. The study used a descriptive survey design. The target population consisted of all the eighteen (18) public secondary schools in Teso District. The sample size constituted 10 schools representing 55.56% of all the schools and was selected through simple random sampling technique. All the head teachers of schools sampled participated in the study. The researcher used random sampling using teachers’ lists to select 50% of the total number of teachers in each school. This gave a total of about 150 teachers from all the sampled schools. But only 64 responded out of the 150. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. Observations were also made on the existence of certain facilities in the schools. Two sets of questionnaires were used: a questionnaire for the head teacher and teachers. Validity and reliability of data collection instruments were made. The data collected from the field was coded and entered into the computer for analysis using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistic such as means, frequencies, percentages, modes, medians, standard deviations, variances and correlations were also used to analyze the data. Charts and tables were tabulated from the scores awarded to the respondents’ views. For qualitative data generated from open- ended questions in the questionnaire, the data was organized first then categories, themes and patterns were created. The data was then coded and analysis done using descriptive statistics as for quantitative data. The study found that supervisory activities involving recruitment of teachers, securing information from applicants; involving existing teachers in deciding if additional staffs are required, writing to TSC asking for teachers and processing applications, were always carried out by the head teachers. Supervisory activities regarding selection of new teachers which involved selection of applicants based on their performance in the interview, involving existing teachers in selection process, conducting interviews, recommendation for teachers’ promotion if they work ed hard and recommending teachers for transfer if they failed to work towards the achievement of the schools success were carried out sometimes. Based on the findings of the study, it can be recommended that there is need to obtain additional facilities such as books and libraries to fully equip schools with necessarymaterials. Other recommendations include the introduction and constant participation of head teachers and teachers in the in-service courses which will help in improving delivery and quality of teaching. It’s also recomme nded that the schools need to ensure that all new teachers fully inducted into the system and are able to, in good time deliver quality teaching and learning to their new schools. The study also recommends that there needs to be strict rules for teachers supervision for success, principals should thereforehave enough authority conforming to responsibility