UNDERSTANDING AND RESPONSIVENESS OF NON-TEACHING PERSONNEL TO THE NORMS OF CONDUCT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DEPED) TIWI DISTRICT

This study assessed the level of understanding and extent of responsiveness of non-teaching personnel to the norms of conduct in the Department of Education (DepEd) Tiwi District. The norms of conduct examined were commitment to public interest, integrity and professionalism, justness and sincerity, responsiveness to the public, and simple living. The study was anchored on the constitutional mandate that public office is a public trust and the provisions of Republic Act No. 6713, which institutionalizes ethical standards among public officials and employees. A descriptive-survey research design was employed involving eighty (80) non-teaching personnel from elementary schools, secondary schools, and the district office. Data were gathered through a researcher-made questionnaire that underwent content and internal validation. Weighted mean, frequency count, percentage distribution, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and t-test were utilized to analyze the data. Findings revealed that respondents demonstrated a very high level of understanding of the norms of conduct across all dimensions. Similarly, their responsiveness to ethical standards was rated very high, indicating consistent adherence to expected professional behaviors. The study further established a very strong positive relationship between understanding and responsiveness, suggesting that increased knowledge of ethical standards contributes to improved ethical practices. Despite the favorable results, several challenges were identified, including occasional lapses in procedural compliance, accountability, responsiveness, and moderation. Based on these findings, an action plan was proposed to strengthen ethical awareness and compliance through continuous training, monitoring, leadership support, and policy reinforcement. The study concludes that strong understanding of ethical standards significantly contributes to responsible, transparent, and accountable public service among non-teaching personnel in DepEd Tiwi District