Dissertation (MA Education)
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.