Supervision and Quality Assurance in Adult Education in Cross River State

This study assessed the supervision and quality assurance systems operating within adult education programmes in Cross River State, South South Nigeria. Effective supervision is a cornerstone of educational quality, providing facilitators with structured feedback and accountability while identifying systemic programme weaknesses that require corrective action. The study employed a descriptive survey design involving 65 supervisors, senior programme officers, and experienced facilitators drawn from three educational zones in Cross River State. Supervision records, structured questionnaires, and key informant interviews formed the data collection basis. Findings indicated that supervisory visits to adult education programme sites were infrequent, poorly documented, and rarely followed up with systematic remedial action. Supervisors reported receiving insufficient training in adult education programme standards and facilitation quality indicators, resulting in supervision activities that were evaluative in nature rather than developmental and supportive. Resource constraints including fuel shortages and vehicle unavailability were frequently cited as logistical barriers to regular site visits. Quality assurance instruments were either outdated or non-existent in many programme zones. Recommendations include developing a comprehensive adult education quality assurance framework for Cross River State, training supervisors as instructional coaches rather than compliance monitors, providing dedicated supervision logistics budgets, and establishing digital reporting systems that enable remote monitoring of programme activities between site visits. Annual quality assurance audits involving external review panels are also proposed as a governance strengthening measure. Keywords: supervision, quality assurance, adult education, Cross River State, programme management.