1 EDUCATIONAL SUPERVISION: CONCEPTS AND PRACTICE WITH REFERENCE TO OYO STATE, NIGERIA O. A. Olorode and A. O. Adeyemo Abstract This paper examined the concept and practice of educational supervision in its universal context. It was noted that the concept of educational supervision has changed over the years. In the 19 th and 20 th centuries, supervision was perceived to be synonymous with school inspection. Teachers in the school system were expected to carry out instructions and directives of supervisors without question. However, today’s supervisors are more humane in their duties as a result of Human Relation Movement in practice. The paper also examined the concept of educational supervision with reference to Oyo State. In Oyo State, supervision in schools is carried out for a number of purposes among which are: grading of schools, subject inspection, checking of records among others. Problems to effective supervision in schools in the state were discussed and means of reducing the perceived problems were also highlighted. Educational Supervision is a branch of Educational Management. Supervision could be defined as a day-to-day guidance of all education operations, coordination of the detailed work and cultivation of good working relationship among all the people involved in the teaching-learning process.. Supervision is in a sense, the back-bone of educational improvement (Education commission). Supervision is provided by the inspectorate division of the ministry of education to help educators and educational administrators to do better jobs. This service provides educational leadership and guidance to various personnels in the field of education. Supervision is necessary in education to ensure uniformity and effectiveness of educational programmes it is required to promote teaching and learning in schools. It incorporates checking, enquiry, fact-finding, keeping watch, survey, correction, prevention, inspiration, guidance, direction, diagnosis, and improvement. The National Policy on Education (NPE) under the broad heading “Planning, Administration and Supervision of Education, contains precise objectives of educational supervision. It is to ensure quality control through regular inspection and continuous supervision of instructional and other educational services (NPE, 2004:55). The Nigerian Journal of Research and Production Volume 20 No 1, April, 2012