School Principals Profile and Public Elementary Schools Performance in The Schools Division Office of Imus City

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The widely quoted biblical verse "By their fruits, ye shall know them" aptly relates to school leadership. The quality of education delivered to students is dependent on how learning process is managed in the schools. A systematic review conducted by Osborne-Lampkin, Folsom, and Herrington (2015) that examined 52 empirical studies published between 2001 and 2012 on the relationships between principal characteristics and student achievement in the United States showed some interesting results. One of which was in general, principal precursors (such as principals' experience and educational attainment) and student achievement had positive relationship. They claimed, however, that principal preparation programs, also a precursor, provided mixed results. This study sought to establish if the school principals' demographic profile has a relationship on schools' performance in the Schools Division Office of Imus City.

METHODS

This study is a descriptive study. The study employed documentary analysis and interview as method of gathering data. Relevant records filed at the Office of the Planning and Research Section of the Schools Division Office of Imus City were requested and analyzed. Permission was obtained from the Schools Division Superintendent to access these records.

RESULTS

Results revealed that majority of the school principals are female (78.57%), had bachelor degree with units in MA (71.43%) and had been promoted as principal prior to the administration of the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH) (50%). Twelve (85.71%) schools recorded a decrease of dropout rate from SY 2013-2014 and SY 2014-2015 and all of the 14 schools studied were way below the national standard of 75% Mean Percentage Score in the National Achievement Test (NAT). The school principals' demographic profile namely sex, educational attainment and qualification, were not related to school performance in terms of dropout rate and result of the NAT.

DISCUSSIONS

The results demonstrated the need that reclassification for new school principals may not be determined solely by passing of the NQESH. Other forms of assessing competence may be instituted on top of this examination. Promotion of school principals to the next rank may also include achievement of set standards as criteria. Lesser weight may be given to criterion such as educational attainment. Future studies may be conducted such as principal's organizational management for instructional improvement that can influence schools' performance.