Effects of Professional, Institutional, and Personal Characteristics on Work Attitude of Public Elementary School Principals

Abstract

Introduction

Principals are considered the most prominent figures in the schools. They assume and shoulder monumental responsibilities to the internal and external stakeholders. In performing their mandate, they are heavily challenged with issues as regards their professional, institutional, personal profile and work attitude. This study attempted to find out if the school principal's professional characteristics and institutional profile significantly affect their work attitude and if their profile has a significant influence on professional characteristics, institutional profile, and work attitude.

Methods

Data gathering in this study was limited to 90 public school principals and 450 teachers in the Division of Pampanga, respondents were selected through purposive and convenience sampling. Frequency, percentage, and multiple regression using stepwise method and analysis of variance were employed to determine the effects of the independent variables and moderating variables on the work attitude of principals.

Results

The professional characteristics of the principals have no significant effect on work attitude as perceived by the principals. Meanwhile, teachers perceived that commitment and resourcefulness have a significant effect on the work attitude of principals.In terms of institutional profile, principals perceived that none of them have a significant effect on their work attitude. On the other hand, teachers perceived that school type has a significant effect on the work attitude of the principals.Only the variable highest educational qualification in the personal profile of the principals manifested a significant effect on work attitude as perceived by the principals themselves. While, out of six variables on the personal profile of the principals, only monthly family net income manifested influence on the significant effect on their work attitude as perceived by the teachers.

Discussions

Two groups of respondents have different perceptions of the effect of the professional, institutional and personal profile on the work attitude of principals. To improve the teachers' perception of their principals, continuing professional growth through training and postgraduate studies are needed. The DepEd may adopt the "Principal Induction Program" from other countries to develop administrative and technical skills of school principals to help them navigate their duties and responsibilities. A further study can be undertaken to investigate other variables that affect the work attitude of principals.