Appraisal Of The Inspection Of Secondary Schools

Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study was to appraise the inspection of secondary schools in the North West Region of Cameroon. More specifically, the study sought to:

1. Determine the different types of inspections carried out in the North West Region of Cameroon.

2. Find out the criteria for the selection of secondary school inspectors of the North West Region.

3. Determine the adequacy of funds provided for secondary school inspection.

4. Investigate the equipment and facilities available for secondary school inspection in the North West Region.

5. Investigate the factors militating against effective inspection of secondary schools in the North West Region.

6. Determine the strategies for improving the inspection of secondary schools in the North West Region of Cameroon.

Significance of the Study

The result of this study is significant because it may reveal to government, policy makers, officials of the Ministry of Secondary Education (MINESEC), schools, parents, and international bodies the exact state of secondary school inspection in the North West Region of Cameroon. This may therefore encourage them to improve upon school monitoring.

The information that will be generated may be significant to the government on the need in providing adequate facilities like, vehicles, out of station allowances, proper training of inspectors, adequate accommodation, adequate staff for school inspection in the North West Region. This will go a long way in curbing idleness among inspectors, and improve upon the teaching- learning qualities of teachers and students respectively.

The research findings may provide useful information to policy makers to have a consistent and coherent training policy for secondary school inspectors and make clear criteria for the recruitment of inspectors. This may be made possible through the inclusion of inspectoral courses in the Higher Teachers Training colleges that train teachers from where the pool of inspectors are drawn and also through regular workshops and seminars for the inspectors.

The findings of the study may be significant to officials of MINESEC. The ministry may likely make the current inspection system more effective than ever before for an effective inspection system can provide a powerful incentive for, as well as directly contributing to, school improvement.

The information that will be generated may be significant to schools. These schools may then see the need for regular inspection which will go a long way to improve upon the teaching-learning process and may also see the need for subject recognition inspection which may reduce the strike actions by students.

The findings of this study would be significant to parents since it would improve upon inspection practices. This is because effective inspectoral services may go a long way in creating an enabling atmosphere for parents who will be able to know the state of performance of their children’s school and be able to determine the choice of school for their children.

The information that would be generated from the study may be significant to international bodies that support education in the country. This may help them to be aware of the proper state of affairs of education and determine whether their funds are properly used and if there is need for more.

The findings of this study from a theoretical angle would enable government and education officials rebuild the process to make school monitoring and inspection its corner stone. It may also encourage regular appraisals to be undertaken on performance and professional development in line with the CIPP appraisal model which asks: what needs to be done, how it should be done, is it being done, and did it succeed?

Scope of the Study

This study was limited to the Inspectorate Department of Secondary Education in the North West Region one of the ten regions in the Republic of Cameroon. It concerned itself with appraising the inspection of secondary schools in the North West Region of Cameroon.

The study was limited in content to the different types of inspections carried out in the North West Region of Cameroon, the criteria for the selection of secondary school inspectors, the adequacy of funds provided for secondary school inspection, and the equipment and facilities available for secondary school inspectors in the North West Region of Cameroon. It also looked into the factors that militated against effective secondary school inspection and the strategies for improving secondary school inspection in the North West Region of Cameroon.

This work however was not concerned with the effects of inspection on the observed exam performance of secondary schools always inspected. It also did not concern itself with the training needs of school inspectors in the Republic of Cameroon and appraising the inspection of primary schools which are outside the scope of the study.

Research Questions

The following research questions guided the study:

1. What are the different types of inspections carried out in secondary schools in the North West Region of Cameroon?

2. What are the criteria for the selection of secondary school inspectors for the North West Region?

3. How adequate are the funds provided for secondary school inspection in the North West Region of Cameroon?

4. How adequate are the facilities and equipment for secondary school inspection in the North West Region of Cameroon?

5. What factors militate against effective secondary school inspection in the North West Region of Cameroon?

6. What are the strategies for improving secondary school inspection in the North West Region of Cameroon?

Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses (HO) guided the study at (P<0.05) level of significance.

HO1 There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of inspectors and principals on the criteria for the selection of secondary school inspectors for the North West Region of Cameroon.

HO2 There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of inspectors  and principals with regards to the funds provided for secondary school inspection.

HO3 There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of inspectors  and principals with regards to the factors that militate against effective secondary school inspection.

HO4 There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of inspectors and principals with regards to the strategies for improving secondary school inspection.