Needs Assessment of Academic Communities in Panabo City Division: Input to a Sustainable Community Extension Programs of the Institute of Education

The K to 12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd) poses problems especially on the part of the secondary school teachers. There could be mass hiring of basic education teachers to meet the demand of the possible influx of students. Some teachers might be hired and asked to teach subject outside of their fields. This led the researchers to delve on the academic needs and issues of the secondary school teachers in Panabo City through needs analysis. The goals of the study were to identify the issues and challenges of the secondary teachers; and devise an institutionalize extension programs that cater the academic needs of the school community. The study was anchored on the community development theory of Allison Tan that focuses and mitigates on the needs and issues of the oppressed people of the community. The researchers employed both the quantitative and qualitative designs. The researchers utilized survey questionnaires and focus group discussion in collecting relevant data. The needs assessment study revealed that most secondary teachers were male ranging 25 years old and below; most of them were in fixed term contract or probationary; finished on their bachelor’s degrees; and had served for a year. Furthermore, they had found out that the immediate concern of the participants is to attend training that enhances their capacity as teachers. The researchers recommended that the Institute of Education should establish an extension program that caters the prominent needs of the teachers through i.Teach extension program (Integrated, Training, Education, Analysis, Communication, and Homemaking).