Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to assess the practices and challenges of cluster
supervision in secondary schools of Buno Bedele Zone. Quality education has got high
priority throughout the world. In order to realize this MoE assigned cluster supervisors for
each cluster school to render support closely for school leaders and teachers to fill their gaps.
Low performance of administrative, pedagogic, liaison activities and community participation
were the major practices gaps identified. Additionally, scarcities of resources and the long
distances between cluster and satellite schools were the challenges that impeded the cluster
supervisors’ roles and responsibilities. Quantitative method was employed and also
qualitative was used to enhance the quantitative data. Descriptive survey design was used.
Beside this questionnaire, interview and document review were the tools selected to gather
data. Pilot test was also conducted at Ingibi secondary school for checking the validity and
reliability of the instruments. Descriptive statistics including mean, percentage, standard
deviation and an independent T-test and narration were used to analyze quantitative and
qualitative data respectively. Likely 5 Woredas and 5 secondary schools were selected
purposively for their availability of transportation and more experienced school leaders and
teachers were found. Similarly, 154 teachers were selected randomly and 62 SBS were
selected purposively for their position and more experiences. Also 15 interviewees were
selected for the study purposively. The findings of the study revealed that infrequent
administrative, pedagogic and liaison tasks. Similarly, insufficient community participation
was addressed. Furthermore, cluster supervisors were challenged with inadequacy of finance
and material resources, the long distance found between clusters and satellite schools. In
general the findings imply that, in the study area, cluster supervisors didn’t discharge their
roles and responsibilities as effectively as expected to ensure quality of education and they
challenged with scarcities of financial and material resources. Based on findings and
conclusions, recommendations were made to alleviate the existing problems. Accordingly, it
was recommended that Buno Bedele Zone and WEO Offices allocate adequate finance and
material resources, and provide training regarding cluster supervisors’ roles and
responsibilities