Instructional supervision in public secondary schools in Kenya

Abstract

This article reports some findings of study regarding practices and procedures of internal instructional supervision in public secondary schools in Kenya. The findings are part of a large-scale project undertaken in Kenya to determine the perceptions of headteachers, teachers and senior government education officers regarding the practices of internal instructional supervision and staff development in Kenyan public secondary schools. Findings indicated that instructional supervision was viewed as a process of checking other people’s work to ensure that bureaucratic regulations and procedures are followed and that loyalty to the higher authorities is maintained. The benefits of supervision practices included facilitating students’ academic performance, improving the quality of teachers and teaching, and enabling instructional supervisors to monitor teachers’ instructional work. The major problems frustrating the practices of instructional supervision were those associated with a lack of consistency, questionable supervisor practices and lack of resources. Suggestions for change included developing clear policies on instructional supervision and providing needed resources, feedback and follow-up support.