Assessing the Challenges Heads of Department Encounter in Instructional Supervision in Ghana. A Case of Selected Senior High Schools in Kwabre East District

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the challenges HoDs in Senior High Schools face during instructional supervision. In so doing, the study employed case study and used mixed method approach. In all a total of 92 questionnaires were administered with a response rate of 75.40%. The population consisted of School Heads /Assistant Heads, HoDs and Teachers drawn from the three study areas.  45.55% of HoDs “agreed” or “strongly agreed” as against 44.82% either “disagreeing” or “strongly disagreeing” that HoDs face a myriad of challenges that are hindering their efforts. The opinion of the 45.55% was confirmed by 60% school heads/ assistants and nearly 60% teachers as against a little over 25% teachers and similar percentage of school heads /assistant heads disagreeing and apparently supporting the views of the 44.82% HoDs above. HoDs employed varied strategies to overcome some of their challenges. Majority of the respondents believed that HoDs are not adequately empowered to perform creditably and for which over 50% of them think that they are performing to some extent. Resultantly, the study recorded the satisfaction level of HoDs with their condition of service as 35% “moderate”, 35% to a “small” extent and 30% to a “great” or “very great” extent. The study concludes that HoDs must be empowered enough to perform their roles successfully for better results.

Keywords: Instructional leadership, Heads of department, Empowerment, Challenges, Satisfaction