The Prevailing Values of the Supervisors at the Palestinian Driectorates of Education and the Effect of Gender, Qualifcation and Experience

The purpose of this study was to define the values of the Palestinian supervisors in Jerusalem and the West Bank. The Study also tried to investigate the relationship of these values to the supervisors’ gender, qualification and years of experience in supervision, teaching and administration. The research questions of the study were : The research questions: 1- What are the prevailing values among the Palestinian supervisors in the West Bank and Jerusalem? 2- Is there an effect of gender on supervisors’ values? 3- Is there an effect of qualification on supervisors’ values? 4- Is there an effect of experience in supervision on supervisors’ values? 5- Is there an effect of experience in teaching or administration on supervisors’ values? Methodology: The study population consisted of all the Palestinian educational supervisors in the West Bank and Jerusalem. It included (141) supervisors in (11) educational directorates in addition to Jerusalem District. In this study, the used methodology was the descriptive one. The tool of the study was a questionnaire which consisted of (72) items for each of the six investigated values. The questionnaire was administered to a random sample of supervisors. Its test—retest reliability was computed to be 0.95. Cronbach Alfa, the lower bound of reliability coefficient is 0.91, which implies that the reliability coefficient is greater or equal to 0.91. Moreover, the questionnaire was checked for validity by a group of experts on the subject. The researcher distributed his questionnaires with the help of the general directors of each district. The collected data was analyzed by computer and the following results were concluded: Findings: 1- Conformity and benevolence were mostly preferred by male supervisors’ while recognition and support values were the least preferred. 2- Conformity and benevolence were mostly preferred by female supervisors, while recognition and support were the least preferred. 3- The mostly preferred values for both male and female supervisors were conformity and benevolence, while the least preferable ones were recognition and support values. 4- From the male supervisors’ point of view ’the six investigated values according to their existence and preference, were ranked as follows: Benevolence, conformity, independence, support, leadership, and recognition. 5- From the female supervisors’ point of view, the six investigated values according to their existence and preference were ranked as follows: Conformity, independence, benevolence, support, leadership, and recognition. 6- The order of the six value, groups for both males and females, according to their existence and preference was: Conformity, independence, support, leadership, recognition, and benevolence. 7- The results did not show any statistical indicators concerning the relationship between the prevailing values and the supervisors’ years of experience in supervision, education or administration. Recommendations: 1- The researcher recommends further studies on different values on different sectors of employees in the Ministry of Education. 2- The necessity of the supervisors’ participation in the planning and implementation of their training programs and the rules and regulations governing their job. 3- Delegate more authority, both in the technical and administrative level I tothe supervisors. 4- The positive values investigated in this study are recommended to be part of the selection criteria for recruiting new supervisors.