ABSTRACT
In recent years, the imperative for integrating technology to streamline administrative tasks in education has gained increasing recognition. Conventional paper-based methods for managing school forms often lead to inefficiencies, impeding the timely and accurate processing of critical information. The shift towards automated systems offers a promising solution to mitigate these challenges. By embracing automation, administrative burdens can be significantly reduced, allowing educators to redirect their focus towards student-centered activities and educational advancement.
This action research introduces the Electronic and Automated School Form (e-ASE), specifically designed to automate the processing of School Forms 9 and 10. Employing a descriptive research design, this study utilized a convenient sampling method to select participants based on researcher availability and preference. Data collection was conducted using a researcher-made questionnaire administered through Google Forms. Analysis involved the use of weighted mean and t-tests to assess functionality, efficiency, and design aspects.
Results demonstrate a high level of acceptance for the Automated School Form across functionality, efficiency, and design criteria. Statistical analysis indicates no significant difference in the evaluation of its acceptability between two groups of respondents across these domains. These findings underscore the applicability of the research outcomes in the adoption and implementation of the Automated School Form.
Moreover, the study recommends promoting the adoption of the Automated School Form among educators and administrators to optimize the processing and storage of learner information and academic progress. The success of this initiative may also serve as a catalyst for other educational institutions to consider adopting similar automated solutions, thereby fostering broader improvements in administrative efficiency and educational quality.
Context and Rationale
Teaching, often regarded as a noble profession, is not without sacrifices, and time is among these sacrifices (Ancho & Bongco, 2019). Teachers must devote a tremendous amount of time and effort to their work. They are responsible for various tasks, such as creating lesson plans, marking homework, giving feedback, attending meetings and seminars, and participating in extracurricular activities. These duties may limit teachers' time, disrupting their work-life balance.
The launch of the MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa agenda by Vice President and Secretary of Education Sara Z. Duterte on January 30, 2023, is significant not only in terms of setting a new direction for the Department of Education (DepEd) but also in terms of addressing critical challenges in the education system.
The MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa agenda is focused on tackling a significant challenge in the education system: the heavy workload of teachers. Implementing the K-12 program and adopting modular and online learning approaches in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the teacher workload. This has created a more challenging environment for teachers regarding lesson preparation and delivery. The agenda aims to address this issue by developing effective strategies to reduce teachers' workload, thus enabling them to deliver quality education to their students.
The Philippine public-school teachers play a vital role in the country's educational system, but they encounter various job challenges, including the demanding task of filling out school forms. These forms are necessary for monitoring student information, attendance, and academic progress, but manually completing them can be time-consuming and error-prone, resulting in delays and inaccurate data. This puts pressure on Filipino public-school teachers, who already have numerous responsibilities as educators, to allocate more time to complete these forms. This may lead to burnout, affecting the quality of education they provide. The excessive workload contributes to teacher burnout, depleting the teacher's physical and emotional energy (Malik, 2019).
When completing school forms, one of the critical concerns for San Jose-Litex Senior High School teachers is creating and using automated forms. These forms are typically required for public schools in Montalban Rizal. To address this issue, the proponent will develop and validate the project e-ASE (Electronic and Automated School Form for Educators), aiming to streamline administrative processes and tasks within school administration. The primary goal of this project is to assist educators in collecting, processing, and conveniently storing information, allowing them to focus their time and efforts on their teaching responsibilities.
There are many reasons why creating automated school forms is a must not only at public schools but also at some government agencies in the country. According to REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11927, July 30, 2022, Also Known As AN ACT TO ENHANCE THE PHILIPPINE DIGITAL WORKFORCE COMPETITIVENESS, ESTABLISHING FOR PURPOSE AN INTER-AGENCY COUNCIL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE PHILIPPINE DIGITAL WORKFORCE AND OTHER PURPOSES; this is why government schools such as San Jose –Litex Senior High School must adapt and engage in this automation of school forms, especially since there has been a need for an efficient and more reliable system for managing student information. Moreover, manual forms and paper-based processes require much more budget, are time-consuming and prone to human errors, which can cause the teachers to collect the information they need inaccurately.
The Division of Rizal under the Department of Education in the Philippines consistently advocates for the automation of school forms to enhance the gathering and administration of student data, given that digital formats are readily accessible. This approach could be integrated with other educational institutions in Montalban Rizal. Senior High School administration will benefit from increased efficiency, effectiveness, and user-friendliness. Ultimately, this initiative will enable educators to concentrate on delivering quality education to their students.
The primary objective of this study is to examine the existing form-handling process and the technical prerequisites for the automation of school forms. The investigation will also consider such a system's anticipated benefits and limitations, particularly in San Jose-Litex Senior High School and other public schools within Montalban, Rizal. The findings of this research will offer crucial insights into the potential advantages of form automation, which can serve as a blueprint for future endeavors to leverage technology to enhance the education system.
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