Principal’s Academic Supervision to Improve Non-Formal Early Childhood Education Teacher’s Competence

The principal is an essential component of an educational institution. As the institution leader, the principal has an essential role in fostering the teachers' ability to conduct the learning process. The school principal conducts supervision to improve the teaching staff's professionalism by increasing competence, increasing discipline, providing motivation, and guidance. This study aimed to determine the Academic Supervision carried out by school principals in non-formal early childhood education, especially early childhood education centre institutions, to improve the competence of teaching staff from planning, implementation, follow-up, and the success of academic supervision by the principals. This research employed a descriptive qualitative approach using interviews as a way to collect the data. This study's results are expected to give feedback and input for education practitioners, especially school principals, to improve teachers' competence in non-formal early childhood education, especially early childhood education centres, so that they can carry out their duties as professional educators.