REFLECTION PAPER ON CURRENT ISSUES AND PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION

TOPIC STATEMENT:
Technical Assistance of School Heads and Master Teachers

TOPIC OVERVIEW:

The formulation of Rationalization (RAT) Plan by various government agencies was

initiated by virtue of Executive Order No. 366 issued in October 2004. The implementation of
RAT Plan has established the formation of eight (8) functional divisions at DepEd Regional
Office. One of the functional divisions instituted is the Field Technical Assistance Division
(FTAD). The goal of FTAD is to:
(a) strengthen the schools’ divisions in managing the respective schools leading to the
achievement of their performance outcomes with the end in view of providing relevant,
timely and appropriate technical assistance to schools’ divisions through the coordination
of all the units in the Regional Office; and
(b) provide enabling interventions and strategies to schools’ divisions to help them achieve
their goals and targets.

Technical Assistance (TA) is any form of professional help, guidance, or support to be

more effective in the performance of one’s functions. It is an active process with steps to follow;
makes use of tools, via process consultation, requires specific skills and focuses on achieving
set goals. It is also a journey, reminding the client of their prime responsibility and
accountability as well respecting their capability and pace.

The old concept of TA is Supervising, Monitoring, Evaluating, Directing, and Instructing.

However, in the new paradigm it is more on Coaching, Guiding and Empowering. Teaching
the subject matter was the focus of the conventional way in monitoring, but now, all the aspects
of Education Management, highlighting the Provision of Access, Quality and Relevance as well
as the Provision and Improvement of Management Services are given importance.

The Rationalization Plan, as applied to the teaching and learning process within an
educational institution focuses on improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of
educational practices. It also aims to streamline administrative processes, allocate resources
more strategically, and enhance the overall teaching and learning experience. Overall, its role is
to create a conducive environment that supports educators, enhances student learning
experiences, and ensures that teaching practices are aligned with educational goals and
standards. Its aims to foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in education.

The technical assistance provided by school heads to teachers aligns with the goals of the
RAT are the following: Efficiency, Resource Allocation, Capacity Building, and Performance
Outcomes.

School heads are both instructional leader and administrative manager (RA 9155 or the
School Governance of Basis education Act of 2001) and should undergo workshops and
trainings to enhance their skills on their role as academic, administrative and community leaders
(RA 10533 or the Enhanced basic Education Act of 2013)

The technical assistance the school heads may provide are Instructional Support,
Classroom Management, Professional Development, Feedback and Evaluation, Resource
Allocation, Support for Special Needs Students, and Collaboration Opportunities.

Master teachers are expected to be highly proficient and guide the proficient teachers
(Teachers I-III) through mentoring and coaching. They are responsible in building a culture of
quality teaching in the school.
 The technical assistance the master teachers may provide are Pedagogical Expertise,
Model Lessons, Peer Mentoring, Subject Matter Support, Curriculum Development,
Assessment and Data Analysis, Professional Learning Communities, Research and Innovation,
In-Service Training, Continuous Growth

KEY POINTS CONSIDERED as TRENDS/ISSUES on the TOPIC:

During our class discussion, the following issues were raised:

I had a bad experience with my previous principal. Because he wanted to give me a Very
Satisfactory grade in RPMS even though I got a grade of 4.580 which is an Outstanding grade.

I also experienced, our principal told me that if I get a Satisfactory or lower than
Outstanding, I will lose my job.

There were isolated cases wherein some of the school heads, instead of giving technical
assistance and motivation to their teachers, they are not able to provide their teachers the said
technical support and it becomes the reasons why some teachers are experiencing low self-
esteem, felt being dehumanized, losses the interest in teaching. Some are experiencing anxiety,
and some are traumatized by the way their school heads talked to them.

Since the role of technical assistance in RPMS ratings was discussed, another problem
raised was the subjective understanding of the few master teachers on how proficient teachers
are evaluated and graded on their classroom observations and other aspects of RPMS rating in
general.

REFLECTION/REACTION:
A school is an organization that aims to produce quality students. A teacher cannot do all
the work alone. This is where master teachers and school heads are needed, especially in
providing the necessary technical assistance to each teacher.

School Heads and Master Teachers are educators who work as mentors to talented
teachers to facilitate professional development in the delivery of quality education. They are
tasked to be leaders who will continue to promote good teaching practice to enhance teaching
ability within the school. They are also innovators in times of challenges creating a
collaborative initiative for new learning opportunities. They should be supportive of their peers
and should not hesitate to share their knowledge with others to support the school's learning
goals. They both play an important role in helping teachers improve their teaching skills and
achieve better results for their students.

It is true that the Results-Based Performance Management System) RPMS is of great help
in evaluating the effectiveness and performance of teachers in fulfilling their duties and
responsibilities, however, it is important to remember that the rating is not only based on the
teacher's individual performance for this the quality of technical assistance provided by the head
of the school and master teacher is also considered.

RECOMMENDATION/SUGGESTIONS
Collaboration and teamwork among teachers, master teachers, and school leaders are essential
to achieving better educational outcomes for students. Therefore, it is important that everyone is
knowledgeable, competent, and objective in their duties to ensure that no one gets hurt or
injured while in the workplace. There should be open communication between and among
school workers.

Teachers should not feel scared when they are working in school because it makes them lose
interest in teaching and it may also cause depression depending on how the people around them
are showing them.

Submitted by:
SITTIE ALYANNA N. ZACARIA
MAED – EM-IA

Submitted to:
LEONARDO D. ZAPANTA EdD, CESO V