DepEd partners with RCTQ on development, validation of test items for school heads’ qualifying exam
Photo from the NQESH validation activity in the National Capital Region.
The Department of Education (DepEd)-Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development (BHROD) has partnered with the Philippine Normal University – Research Center for Teacher Quality on the analysis, design, development, validation, and finalization of the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH).
NQESH is DepEd’s “primary mechanism to safeguard and gauge the competency and quality of the aspiring school leaders in DepEd schools” as emphasized in Memorandum DM-PAHROD-2021-0081 issued in February 2021 by former Undersecretary Jesus Mateo.
Agreeing on strict confidentiality and non-disclosure, a total of 322 school heads holding Principal I and Principal II positions validated the newly-developed examination by taking the test in seven separate venues nationwide during the whole month of January 2022. The activity aimed to gather relevant data that will be the basis for the finalization of the 20221 NQESH test items.
A technical working group (TWG) composed of 30 item writers from DepEd drafted the test items with technical assistance from RCTQ.
The development of the test items was anchored on the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH) or DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2020, a set of professional standards that RCTQ also helped develop with BHROD.
The new NQESH will test aspiring school principals on the following competencies as described in Career Stage 1 of the PPSSH, among others: i) basic knowledge and understanding of the authority, responsibility, and accountability expected of school heads as described in the PPSSH; ii) minimum qualifications to perform their functions as instructional leaders and administrative managers; and iii) exceptional teaching and/or leadership skills described by Career Stage 3 and/ or Career Stage 4 in the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST).
The BHROD team is led by OIC Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral, Director IV Atty. Anne Rachel Miguel and Director III Dr. Jennifer Lopez. The project team from RCTQ is led by Director Dr. Gina Gonong and Dr. Levi Elipane as project leader.
BHROD Director IV Atty. Anne Rachel Miguel welcomes participants of the NQESH validation activity in the NCR.
Addressing the participants in one of the validation activities, Atty. Miguel said that “through this activity, DepEd will be better guided on reconfiguring and finalizing the test. Your participation is indeed very instrumental in the finalization of NQESH.”
BHROD Director III Dr. Jennifer Lopez gives an opening message at a validation activity in Luzon.
Dr. Lopez said: “The new NQESH will test the expected competencies of aspiring school heads. This will ensure that each NQESH passer has the knowledge and skills expected of every school head and knows exactly what to do once he/she is assigned to manage a public school.”
RCTQ Director Dr. Gina Gonong welcomes participants at a validation activity in Luzon.
RCTQ Director Dr. Gina Gonong said that “through this collaboration, the research component of the development and validation work for NQESH will ensure that the test is valid and reliable.”
“We are indeed grateful for this BHROD-RCTQ partnership,” Dr. Gonong said.
https://www.rctq.ph/?p=3348NewsNQESH,PPSSH
