Abstract:
The main objective of this study was to find out supervisory practices of
public junior high schools in Twifo Atti-Morkwa District in the Central
Region of Ghana. This study was centred on supervisory roles of supervisors
such as school heads, School Improvement Support Officers (SISO) Assistant
Director (AD) in charge of Supervision, Officials from National Schools‟
Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA) and the District Director of Education, types
of supervision, challenges of supervision and measures to address them. The
study used both simple random sampling and purposive sampling in selecting
172 respondents made up of 120 teachers, 40 school heads, 10 SISOs, 1 AD in
charge of supervision and the District Director of Education. The study
employed a descriptive survey design with both questionnaires and interview
guides to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Greater percentage of
both school heads and teachers agreed that school heads perform their
supervisory roles as expected of them. The study revealed that internal
supervision was common in the district. It was also evident from the study that
officers from National Schools‟ Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA) do not pay
regular visits to the schools in the district. Some challenges of supervision
indicated by the study included, transportation difficulties, inadequate
provision of teaching learning materials and other logistical constraints, as
well as lack of incentives for supervisors such as SISOs. It was recommended
that the state should provide the needed logistics to help promote effective
supervision of schools in the district. It was suggested through the study that
allowances and other incentives should be given to supervisors to boost their
morale. It was also suggested that the district assembly should do regular
maintenance on the bad roads in the district.
