Rethinking Strategies of the Modern Supervision: Scope, Principles and Techniques

Abstract

Principles and techniques of supervision have been regarded as the means through which teaching and learning process can be more effective. This paper trace and discussed the historical aspect of school supervision and inspection from 1910 to date. Purpose of school supervision as; ensuring the maintenance of high moral among the teachers, suggesting ways of improving teachers’ performance among others were also examined. The scope of instructional supervision which include: supervision of instructional work, supervision of school environment and supervision of co-curricular activities were discussed. In the paper, the principles of supervision i.e. Principle of human relation, principle of acceptance and principle of cooperation among others were highlighted. Another issue examined by the paper was techniques of modern supervision, such as demonstration technique, conference technique and classroom visitation technique. The paper also examined the differences existed between traditional and modern method of supervision. For example, the old concept of supervision was teacher/principal focused and school system centered, it is also based on haphazard inspection visit. While the modern approach emphasis is on assessing teaching and identifying instructional problems more than assessing the teacher, it seeks to help teacher recognize and accept general aims of the school and work towards their attainments. Problems confronting the supervision of instruction in Nigerian schools have been mentioned to include: Unqualified and untrained personnel, inadequate funds for supervision of instruction. Lastly, the possible solutions to the problems suggested include among other; to provide sufficient funds for the supervisory activities. Adequate supervisory facilities should be provide available.