UTILIZATION OF FISCAL RESOURCES OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Abstract: This quantitative-descriptive analysis research investigation sought to find out the extent of utilization of fiscal resources, the level of academic performance, and the challenges encountered by public school heads in the District of Hinoba-an in terms of the fundamental guiding principles of sound fiscal management systems adapted from Johnson and Malhoit (2004). As assessed by school heads, teachers and external auditors, the results disclosed that the school heads utilized the fiscal resources based on SIP oftentimes and on a very good regard to Deped Order No. 13, s. 2016. The school performance measured against the Mean Percentile Score (MPS) of the unified quarterly examinations during the school year 2016-2017 was interpreted as fair. To test whether there is a significant difference among the assessment of the participants, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used. The findings revealed that the participants’ assessment significantly differ in Public Involvement/ Transparency, Integrity/ Efficiency, Educational Excellence for Children, Accountability, Competence/ Professionalism, and Funding Quality and Equity. To test whether there is a significant relationship between the utilization of fiscal resources and school performance, Spearman Rho Coefficient was used. The study confirmed that there is no significant relationship between the two and attested that the effects of school heads on student learning are mostly indirect and some cases is near zero (Hallinger & Heck, 1996; Ross_ & Gray, 2006). The school heads revealed on their narratives that they have faced challenges the most in the auditing procedures and submission of corresponding documentations subjected to rules and standards set by the Commission on Audit. An annual two-day developmental face-to-face enhancement training program was then designed based on the results of the study. Keywords: Utilization of Fiscal Resources and School Performance, Principles on Fiscal Management System