2026 IJRSE – Volume 15 Issue 8
Available Online: 3 April 2026
Author/s:
Moreno, Richard S.
Department of Education, Schools Division of Ilocos Sur, Philippines (richard.moreno001@deped.gov.ph)
Abstract:
Notwithstanding the strict cascading of DepEd Orders and their implementation in the basic education in all the divisions of the Philippines, research gaps continue to hinder the attainment of collaborative, professionalism-oriented and service-focused education. This study assesses the pedagogical proficiency and leadership competence of master teachers in the Schools Division of Ilocos Sur and the results serve as benchmark in the development of an educational support program that aims to boost the nobility of the master teachers’ career and noble calling. The explanatory sequential design of mixed methods research requires the use of a total enumeration of 287 master teachers of SDO Ilocos Sur and their corresponding heads as sources of data. A validated survey questionnaire and Key Informant Interview (KII) are the data gathering instruments. From the points of view of the two groups of respondents, the master teachers possess relevant and exceptional pedagogical proficiency and leadership competence. Findings reveal that there is a significant difference between the perceptions of school heads and master teachers along pedagogical proficiency and leadership competence of master teachers. Significant differences exist on their perceptions where school heads rate the master teachers lower. Likewise, teaching experiences and trainings, seminars and workshops and age influence the level of pedagogical proficiency and leadership competence of the MTs. Triangulating the quantitative results with KII, the master teachers face personal and institutional barriers in sustaining their tremendous performance and proficiency. Utilizing the results, an educational support program that aims to boost the morale, capabilities and leadership skills of the MTs was crafted and validated.
Keywords: pedagogical proficiency, leadership competence, master teacher, educational support program
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26117
Cite this article:
Moreno, R. S. (2026). Pedagogical proficiency and leadership competence of master teachers: Input to an educational support program. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 15(8), 73-88. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26117