Competencies and Challenges of Public School Heads in Crafting a School-Based Professional Development Plan (PDP)

Professional Development (PD) programs depend on school heads’ competencies to improveteaching quality and ensure equitable education, but they often face challenges in designingand implementing these programs. This study assessed the competencies and challenges ofpublic school heads in crafting school-based PD plans within the Schools Division of CalbayogCity for the school year 2024–2025. The study employed a sequential explanatory design,involving 120 public school head-respondents and 9 NEAP-accredited participants. The resultsrevealed that the majority of school heads are 40–49 years old, predominantly female, married,with master’s units. Most serve as Principals in monograde elementary schools, have anaverage of 10 years of administrative experience, and have attended five or fewer professionaldevelopment trainings. The findings showed that school heads excelled in competencies suchas communicative skills, collaborative leadership, and technical and training skills. However,areas like customization, flexibility, and sustainability planning require improvement. It alsorevealed that school heads faced significant challenges, with contextual analysis being the mostdifficult, followed by sustainability planning and technical skills. Additional challenges inPD planning and implementation included difficulties in identifying teachers’ needs, limitedresources, scheduling conflicts, and teacher disengagement. Compliance with higher-leveldirectives also hindered the timely implementation of PD plans. The study also revealeddifferences in competencies based on position, with Head Teachers excelling in communicationskills and Principals leading in sustainability planning. Age was another factor influencingchallenges, with school heads aged 40–49 facing fewer issues than those over 50 but more thanthose aged 30–39. The findings suggest the need for continued support to sustain school heads’competencies and address the challenges they face in PD planning and implementation.