Supervision of instruction in junior secondary schools (JSS) within the Tema municipality, Ghana

Abstract

The study was on supervision of instruction in Junior Secondary Schools in the Tema municipality, in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The purpose of the study was to find out the state of supervision of instruction in the Tema municipality, the type of supervision emphasized and which type teachers preferred. It was also to find out whether teachers were satisfied with the level of supervision in the municipality and the problems they encountered in their work and whether the supervision improved the performance of pupils in the Basic Education Certificate Examination. The data was collected through questionnaire and interview guide. The hat-trick random sampling selection method was used for the schools from the five circuits chosen. The statistical method used in the analysis was simple percentages. Total sample size was 177. The descriptive survey design was used for the study. The study involved headteachers, teachers, pupils, circuit supervisors, the district director, and the head of inspectorate.Findings made were that with the exception of the teachers who preferred internal supervision to external supervision, all other respondents considered both internal and external supervision as equally important. Major problems faced by external supervisors, was the lack of transportation and logistics. It is recommended that these are to be provided by the municipal director of education for effective supervision. Workshops also should be organized for teachers to sensitize them on the complementary roles played by external supervision.