PRACTICE AND CHALLENGES OF INSTRUCTIONAL SUPERVISION IN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ENDERTA WEREDA OF TIGRAY REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the current practices of instructional supervision to identify ways to enhance instructional activities in government secondary schools within the Enderta Werda of the Tigray regional State. To achieve this objective, a descriptive survey method was employed. This approach was chosen because it facilitated the researcher in gathering information on the utilization of fundamental supervisory skills—namely, conceptual, human relations, and technical—and the execution of supervisory tasks in instructional supervision practices. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis. A sample of 150 individuals (85 male and 20 female), including teachers, principals, vice principals, Department heades and supervisors, was selected from a total population of180 (160 male and 20 female) in the sample areas using simple random and available sampling techniques. The data were then tabulated and analyzed using frequency and percentage. The study's findings indicated that the implementation of instructional supervisory practices was inadequate, primarily due to a lack of essential knowledge regarding basic supervisory leadership skills. As a result, teachers felt uncomfortable with the current instructional supervision methods. The research highlighted several factors that hindered effective implementation in the target secondary schools, including insufficient ongoing training systems, a lack of commitment from supervisors, poor coordination, and the excessive workload of supervisors. Based on these findings, several recommendations were made. These include organizing in-service education programs for supervisors that focus on essential supervisory skills, as well as conducting awareness seminars for teachers and principals on the significance of educational supervision in overall school improvement, instructional enhancement, and professional development.