The Internal and External Supervision Practices Used in Primary Schools in Zimbabwe to Enhance Teacher Effectiveness for Quality Implementation of the Competency Based Curriculum: A Case of H

Abstract

Internal and external supervision in schools is crucial for quality assurance  and service delivery. We cannot  talk of quality  without examining the  supervisory practices used  in primary schools in Zimbabwe that contribute towards teacher effectiveness. The paper sought to examine the supervision practices used in primary schools in Zimbabwe to enhance teacher effectiveness for quality implementation of the competence based curriculum.

Attention is focused on the school heads and teachers in Hwange District. A quantitative research approach and a case study design were used to collect the data from 60 primary school teachers and ten heads of schools who were randomly selected. Closed and open ended questionnaires were used to for collect the data. The findings indicated that there was little attention given to teachers to promote teacher effectiveness and teachers don’t like supervision. Much focus was on quantity production of supervision reports to meet the demands of the district officials and record book keeping. Inspection was still practised in schools under the cover of  supervision. Teacher capacity development programmes were

seriously lacking in schools. Little attention was given to correct the teacher weaknesses in their teaching practice. The scientific supervision model is still domineering in schools. There was no common supervision model used in schools as most school heads are not conversant with knowledge and skills on the appropriate supervision models to use. Thestudy recommended among other things for staff developments sessions and workshops on school heads on supervision models to use to supervise teachers and produce the desired academic results.

Key words: Quality education, supervision, supervision  practices,  supervision models, scientific supervision model, human relations supervision model, human resources supervision model, clinical supervision model, eclectic supervision model, teacher effectiveness