La supervisión educativa como función principal de la Inspección. Características y propósitos

The article describes the foundations of educational supervision from a bibliographic-historical, legal, conceptual, comparative perspective and as application in other areas of knowledge of the social sciences. To clarify the meaning of supervision, it is necessary to relate it to terms that historically have maintained similar meanings: inspection, assessment and evaluation. Furthermore, there is an open debate on whether it can be considered a science with the respective academic consideration and as in other professions, there is a need to reinforce ethical behavior. The article also defines and develops what is understood by educational supervision that consists in carrying out a planned, continuous, cyclical and integral inspection of the organizational and didactic procedures of the centers and the classrooms by qualified professionals and with authority for it (supervisors). Finally, the purposes on which, today, the supervisory function must be based: Orientation and commitment to the goals of education are analyzed; the respect and pertinent support to the autonomy of the centers and the freedom of chair; the promotion of educational change; the conception of education as a public service; the promotion of school participation; the empowerment of faculty functions, prioritizing pedagogical advice for the renewal of teaching-learning aspects and improvement of school results; mediation to prevent and resolve conflicts and support the pedagogical leadership of school management.