ABSTRACT

The main purpose of this work is to examine the attitude of secondary school principals towards school inspection in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. To be able to achieve the above purpose, the following test was carried out. The population of the study was collected from eight male principals and twenty two female principals. Collections were also made from three groups of school heads. The instrument used for the study was the questionnaire which was validated by the supervisor. The principals were also interviewed while further relevant data was collected from the ministry of education. The data gathered were mainly analyzed by sample percentage techniques. The study further revealed the poor attitude of secondary schools heads towards school inspection in the strength of these findings it was recommended that further research can be carried out examine if the present performance of students is influenced by the role of performance of school inspection.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In most developing countries of the world education is seen as an important instrument of change that could foster the socio-economic and political development. The need has led to the expansion of education to provide the much needed manpower. In other words, education plays a very important role in the development of nay nation and therefore occupies a position of high priority in the mind of its citizens. As recognized by Harrison (1974) the speed and facility with which any society progress toward solution to its political, social and economic problems are directed and positively related to the quality and quantity of education available to its people in other words the survival of any nation depends upon the effectiveness of its education enterprises.

Primarily education is the first stage of education and is acceptable key to success or failure of the whole educational system. The secondary school is recognized as a spring board to secondary and higher education particularly in Nigeria. Secondary school level can be regarded as an instrument in socio-economic development process. Ti this end substantial sum of money are embarked in Nigeria government annual budget for the [provision of education services in recognition of the importance of the secondary school education to the federal government of Nigeria accorded it a place in the new national policy on education formulated in 1977 and reviewed in 1981. The schools are becoming large and consequently more bureaucratic. A large number of teachers are either unqualified thereby placing a greater burden on the school heads who are trying to coordinate the school activity. The school system in Nigeria is a major industry catering for the mass education of its citizens to meet the demand and challenges of a changing world consequently the school system has become very complex requiring that report and budget for the various activity and program geared toward the maximum utilization of the scare resources goals these responsibility according to Aderoimu and Ehimentalor (1941) is primary those of administration and supervision in Nigeria for instance the Universal Primary Education school in 1955 opened that gateway to educational expansion although it was first practice in the scheme in the western region other regional government soon borrowed the idea.

The introduction of the scheme in western region increased significantly the number of schools which are required to be inspected. Subsequently, military government in Nigeria sustained the idea it wax therefore not surprising when in 1976 then military government of Nigeria Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo declared free Universal Primary Education through out the country, coupled with this is the recent one also launched by retainers Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo free Universal Basic Education in the year 2000 throughout the country. Free education should be provided for all citizens of age from primary to junior secondary schools level to foster rapid economic development, the aim of the scheme was to eect national development. The high increased in the number of teachers required for the programme to cope with the increase in the number of teacher to enhance teaching learning activities in the classroom. In Nigeria, the geographical division are on local government basis and each local government area office is headed by a Chief Inspector of Education. There are other subordinate workers working with the Chief Inspector among who are the Inspector of school. Inspection was defined by Wiles (1969) pg. 46 as assistance in the development of a better teaching learning situation. Inspection therefore is recognized as a vital ingredient in enable the teaching learning process to thrive since it exports for the primary aim and improving the instructional programme of the school. Hence, good supervision is a pre-condition for an effective pupils’ teachers relationship which is indispensable for the success of any educational system.

With the new 6-3-3-4 system and the ever growing demand for education there is the need for functional types of school inspection that would contributes of improving and maintaining standard in our school bases on the foregoing consideration the main objective of supervision in school has been spelt out as follows; The establishment and maintenance of standard the control, comparison and corrective action for the purpose of attaining specific overall objective of the educational system. Ogunsaju (1983) education supervision perception and practice in Nigeria. Inspite of the fact that some form of supervision is sometimes carried out by inspectors of education, principal and other to check the teaching learning process in the classroom, the Nigeria child having spent about six years in the secondary school of twelve years including secondary school still perform relatively poor. There are good numbers of pupils who fail in the common entrance examination or West Africa School Certificate Examination with many getting a pass grade. It is therefore asserted that if the function of school inspections and the role of principal are properly spelt out, school in Edo State in particular Ovia North East which L.G.A. at the secondary school level which is the block of a child education level help in maintain and improving standard in later years.