Efficacy and Leadership Practices of Public Elementary School Teachers in North District, Division of Lipa City

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Among the manpower needs of all educational institutions, the teachers are the most indispensable for they perform the greatest and foremost roles in the education of children (Abraham, 2011). The alarming result of the National Achievement Test (NAT) to Grade 3, Grade 6, and Year 2/Year 4 students showed that Filipino learner's NAT Mean Percentage Score (MPS) has improved over the eight-year period (SY 2005-2006 to 2012-2013) but has not yet reached the 75 percent MPS target for Philippine EFA. As of SY 2012-2013, elementary level NAT is 6.12 percentage points away from target. This situation demands an investigation on some of the teacher's personal and professional qualities of which teacher efficacy and leadership practices are part and parcel.

METHODS

The Descriptive Method of research was employed with the use of questionnaire as the main instrument in gathering data. This research focused on the leadership practices and efficacy of 171 public elementary school teachers in North District, Division of Lipa City for A.Y. 2016-2017. The efficacy of teachers was determined as to their commitment, innovativeness, creativeness, and motivation while the teachers' leadership practices covered their school activities with reference to instruction, co-curricular activities, extracurricular activities, and community participation. Likewise, the challenges faced by the teachers regarding their leadership practices and efficacy were also examined.

RESULTS

The teachers manifest high level of efficacy in terms of commitment, innovativeness, creativeness, and motivation. The respondents' leadership practices manifest greatly in the performance of functions related to instruction, co-curricular activities, extra-curricular activities, and community participation. There is a significant relationship between the teachers' manifested efficacy and leadership practices. The more common challenges teachers encounter in relation to leadership and efficacy are motivating and stimulating pupils' interest, insufficient school resources in the implementation of curriculum activities, and time-management issues. Thus, a plan of action was proposed to strengthen the leadership practices and efficacy of teachers.

DISCUSSIONS

The results show the need for teachersto be more innovative especially in motivating pupils. A proposed action plan to strengthen further the teachers' leadership practices and efficacy also should be presented to authorities for review and appropriate action.