The Contribution Of School Inspection On Improvement Of Teaching And Learning: A Case Of Primary Schools In Zanzibar

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to assess the contribution of the school inspection on the

improvement of teaching and learning in primary schools in Zanzibar. The Scientific

Management and Human Relations theories guided the study. The study employed

the descriptive survey design. The data were collected through questionnaires,

interviews and focus group discussion (FGD). Purposive and simple random

sampling techniques were employed to select the sample of 94 informants from

Mkoani District; the sample included 1 District Education Officer, 10 school

inspectors, 6 heads of schools and 77 primary school teachers.

The findings indicated that the school inspectors helped the teachers to identify the

weaknesses that hindered the effective teaching and learning of the pupils and helped

them to improve their instructional skills. It was further revealed that teachers in all

the visited primary schools had a positive perception towards the school inspection;

they viewed the school inspectors as their helpers and partners.

The major challenges facing the inspectorate department were the inadequacy number

of the qualified school inspectors, financial problems, and transport and the lack of

implementation of the school inspection report and recommendations by the

respective government authorities and officials. It is concluded in this study that the

school inspectors need to strengthen the relationship between them and the teachers

so that teachers can reveal their professional problems that arise during the classroom

teaching. It is also recommended that the schools need to be empowered to conduct

the self-evaluation so that they improve the teaching and learning.