Effect of Instructional Supervision on Education Quality in Secondary Schools in Kaham District, Tanzania

Abstract

The pursuit of quality learning experiences is vital to fostering individual growth, societal progress, and global competitiveness. This paper assessed the role of instructional supervision  in the delivery of quality education. This study was conducted in 5 selected secondary schools in Kahama, Tanzania. A mixed research approach and a convergent parallel design were used. One hundred and fifty seven (157) respondents composed of 142 teachers, 5 heads of schools, 5 school board members, 4 ward educational officers and 1 district educational officer were involved. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS, version 21) while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings indicate that when instructional supervision is conducted appropriately it significantly contributes to teacher professional growth which in turn contributes to optimizing the quality of education. Additionally, the study found maximum cooperation between supervisors and supervisees to be paramount in instructional supervision. The findings also indicated that for instructional supervision to be effective, school leaders are to promote a culture of academic excellence, by ensuring conducive teaching and learning environment. Moreover, classroom visits should be regarded as supporting and encouraging teachers rather than a faulty finding strategy. Hence, this study is a wakeup call to all those involved in instructional supervision to strive towards promoting a positive mindset towards instructional supervision and to give it the priority it deserves to ensure the achievement of quality education