PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES OF SCHOOL BASED INSTRUCTIONAL SUPERVISION IN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF GEDEO ZONE, SNNPR

<strong>ABSTRACT: </strong>The purpose of this study was to examine the practice and challenges of school based instructional supervision in government secondary schools (9-10) of Gedeo zone. One of the most critical problems facing the education sector is how to improve the competence of teachers to bring about instructional improvement. The study mainly focus on the practices of school based instructional supervisors in promoting teachers professional competency and challenges that affect the implementation of school based instructional supervision. To achieve this, the study was carried out in 4 government secondary schools selected through simple random sampling technique. The participants were 118 teachers selected using random sampling techniques, 4 principals and 4 vice principals who were selected through purposeful sampling, 4 unit leaders of the four schools were included and 16 department heads were randomly selected and four woreda supervision coordinators were also involved in the study. Questionnaire was the main instrument of data collection. Interview was also utilized to supplement the data obtained through the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to interpret data gathered using the questionnaire. The qualitative data obtained through interview were analyzed. The finding of the study indicated that the school-based instructional supervision practices were not applied properly. School based supervisors were not highly responsible to support teachers instructionally. School supervisors were also contained in promoting professional competence of teachers. Furthermore, the study revealed that; lack of support like manuals, shortage of budget, lack of training and experience sharing session, lack of commitment and inadequate communication skill of supervisors hinders proper implementation of school based supervision. Finally recommendations were drawn based on the above findings for the stakeholders. The point of the recommendations include:- developing awareness on the part of teachers through induction, mentoring and in service training, experience sharing workshop, discussion forums ,allocation of adequate budget and some materials for training in order to bring about professional growth of teachers and improve their instructional practice. Instructional supervisors should be committed to provide professional support to teachers in order to improve their instructional limitations, and principals and other management bodies must follow up and support the activities of supervision.