The Effectiveness of Project Deconcentration of Vital Operations for Leveraging Volumes of Education Services (DeVOLVES) on Accountability, Transparency, and Efficiency in the Schools Division Office of Quezon Province
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65339/ijsair.V2.I3.733Keywords:
Accountability, Administrative Deconcentration, Efficiency, Project DeVOLVES, Public Service Governance, TransparencyAbstract
This study evaluated the effectiveness of Project DeVOLVES (Deconcentration of Vital Operations for Leveraging Volumes of Education Services) in promoting accountability, transparency, and efficiency in the Schools Division Office of Quezon Province and served as the basis for an action plan to strengthen its implementation. The study was anchored on Institutional Theory, Governance Theory, Public Value Theory, Policy Implementation Theory, and Transaction Cost Economics. A descriptive-evaluative-correlational research design with documentary analysis was employed. Data were collected from 212 non-teaching personnel from the first, third, and fourth congressional districts using a researcher-made, expert-validated questionnaire with excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha = .991). Descriptive and correlational statistical techniques were used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that Project DeVOLVES was generally rated as Much Effective in implementation and Very Much Effective in accountability, transparency, and efficiency. Purpose and monitoring received the highest implementation ratings, while evaluation obtained the lowest, though still favorable, assessment. Significant agreement was observed in the implementation of selected project dimensions, whereas no significant agreement was found regarding its effectiveness across accountability, transparency, and efficiency. Strong positive relationships were identified among accountability, transparency, and efficiency, indicating that improvements in one governance dimension contribute to enhancements in the others. The study concludes that Project DeVOLVES effectively strengthens decentralized educational governance and public service delivery. It recommends strengthening evaluation practices, stakeholder feedback mechanisms, performance monitoring, staff development, resource management, and the standardization of best practices across all sub-offices. The study supports Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by promoting accessible and quality educational services and Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by enhancing accountability, transparency, and effective public governance. Its sustainability impact lies in providing evidence to improve decentralized educational management and support continuous institutional improvement in public education.
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