Appraisal Of The Inspection Of Secondary Schools

The main purpose of this study was to appraise the inspection of secondary schools in the North West Region of Cameroon. The study employed the survey research design. The population of this study was the 326 subjects made up of 258 principals of secondary schools in the region, 61 regional inspectors, and 7 divisional pedagogic advisers. Purposive sampling technique was used. Six research questions were answered and four hypotheses tested. Mean scores of the items answered the research questions while t-test statistics was employed to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. 

The study revealed that the different types of inspection are occasionally carried out; rejected the fact that the most often chosen criteria for selecting inspectors include candidates’ output as a teacher and the track record of candidates in relation to previous and present performance etc; funds for secondary school inspection are highly inadequate; facilities for school inspection are highly inadequate; factors that militate against effective secondary school inspection include lack of appropriate professional skills, unavailability of inspectors handbook for schools and inspectors etc. The strategies for improving inspection included the introduction of performance indicators, the availability and use of inspector’s handbook for inspectors and schools etc. 

The t-test revealed a significant difference between the opinions of principals and school inspectors on the criteria for the selection. It revealed a  no significant difference between the opinions of principals and school inspectors with regards to the funds provided for secondary school inspection. It also revealed a significant difference between the mean scores of principals and school inspectors on the factors that militate against effective secondary school inspection. On the basis of these findings, recommendations were made which included that, the Ministry of Secondary Education should ensure that the different modes of inspection be carried out, selection of inspectors should not only be based on academic and professional qualification, and government should provide sufficient funds for the procurement of necessary equipment and stationeries.