THE SOCIAL SKILLS OF EDUCATION STUDENTS OF SAN JOSE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (SJCC)

This study examined the social skills of Education students at San Jose Community College (SJCC), Malilipot, Albay during the academic year 2021–2022. It sought to determine the level of manifestation of social skills across five dimensions: basic, emotional, interaction, communication, and social cognition. Using a descriptive-survey method, the study involved 308 respondents—189 students and 119 faculty members. Findings revealed that communication skills were the most manifested, followed by basic, social cognition, emotional, and interaction skills. The overall weighted mean of 3.30 indicated that students “sometimes” demonstrated social skills. Significant differences were found between student and faculty perceptions across all dimensions. Problems affecting social skills included low socio-economic conditions, family issues, and difficulty in forming friendships. To address these, a guidance and counseling plan was proposed, including financial literacy programs, family day celebrations, and campus friendship week activities. The study concluded that while students possess moderate social skills, targeted interventions are necessary to strengthen interaction and emotional competencies. Recommendations emphasized integrating social development in curricula, expanding campus activities, and conducting further studies on related psychosocial aspects.