ROLE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (AO) IN THE PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN KORONADAL CITY

In today’s dynamic educational landscape, efficient administrative operations are vital for sustaining effective school management. This study employed a quantitative approach, using descriptive and correlational research designs to evaluate the extent to which administrative officers perform their roles and how this influence overall school administrative performance. The study involved 149 respondents; teachers, school heads, and administrative officers; from District 2 of Koronadal City Division for the school year 2024-2025. Findings revealed that administrative officers performed their roles to a considerable extent with a mean of 4.00. Among the five functional areas, Personnel Administration ranked highest with a mean of 4.18, indicating strong engagement in core duties like record-keeping and document processing. Conversely, Compensation and Benefits scored the lowest with a mean of 3.42, highlighting a need for improved systems in handling benefits and salary adjustments. Regarding school administrative performance, percentage of fund utilization received a perfect score across schools, while monthly liquidation emerged as the weakest indicator with a mean of 2.86, suggesting lapses in timely financial reporting. A statistically significant relationship (t = 5.60) was found between administrative officers' performance and school administrative effectiveness, confirming their essential role in institutional efficiency. Challenges such as data management issues, communication barriers, and limited professional growth were also identified, emphasizing the need for enhanced administrative systems, policy support, and capacity-building programs.