An Assessment of the Role of Instructional Supervision on Teacher Performance and Its Effectiveness on the Performance of Primary School Pupils- A Case Study of Open Distance Learning (ODL) Students at the Zimbabwe Open University: Department of Teacher Education-(Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Development Programme)

Abstract

There are key concerns about the assessment of the role of instructional supervisors on teacher performance and its effectiveness on the performance of primary school pupils nationally. Such issues emanate from the need to assess and evaluate the extent to which supervisors are implementing their roles on schemes of work lesson plans, lesson presentation, maintenance of class records and class management and learning environment in schools where the (ODL) are operating. The study focuses on the instructional supervision roles conducted on the Open Distance Learning (ODL) students of the Zimbabwe Open University, Harare Region. It uses both quantitative and qualitative methodology and case design.  A  purposively selected  sample  of  six teachers from private schools ,eleven teachers  from high density schools  and  another sample  of eleven teachers  from the primary  rural schools are selected out of a total population of one hundred and sixty  five students in the Faculty  of Arts  and  Education in the department of teacher education.  In total the sample comprise of twenty-eight students who are in the programme of Bachelor of Education, Early Childhood Development in Harare/ Chitungwiza region. Data is collected through the use of interviews, open questionnaires and structured questionnaires as well as the use of documentary analysis. The students are asked to show how important each of these aspects are by ranking them on the scale where (1) represents the least important and (5) represents the most important. Some of the documents to be analysed include lesson plans, schemes of work, reports from supervisors and some samples of class records. Furthermore, students are asked to assess and evaluate the importance of the role of the instructional supervisor on the performance of teachers and its effectiveness on the performance of pupils. The study will have to source from the students, their judgement and effectiveness of the role of instructional supervision.