EXPERIENCES AND SUGGESTIONS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS' SELECTION IN BARMM: BASIS FOR POLICY FORMULATION

This research attempts to formulate policy by investigating and comparing the perceptions and suggestions on the hiring process used in selecting secondary principals in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Employing a comparative-qualitative approach, this study purposively sampled thirty-six (36) secondary principals and two (2) Human Resource (HR) personnel from Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) and Mindanao State University (MSU) - System Basic Education Unit. The data was collected through in-depth-interview and document analysis and were analyzed through content analysis after transcribing and coding process by the MaxQDA software. The findings disclose both sets of principals have positive and negative perceptions about the process, positive because they deem the procedures to be good or perfect, yet negative because of some factors that tend to influence or manipulate the selection process and decision making. Thus, they suggested a strict adherence to the guidelines in the selection process, avoid the Palakasan system or political involvement, and underscore the need to select principals who took on the role of being an Office-in-Charge, Teacher-in-Charge, or Assistant Principal because of their relevant experience managing a school. From these findings, this study formulated a policy that is more comprehensive, updated, and at the same time, contextualized to the needs of the principals in the region of BARMM.