Home⇛Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal⇛vol. 46 no. 8 (2025)

Click, Rank, Hire: Gauging the Success of DepEd Bohol's Recruitment and Selection System

Fernando Enad

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

As the largest employer in the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd) plays a critical role in shaping equitable and efficient public service systems, especially in teacher recruitment. In response to longstanding concerns regarding transparency and efficiency in hiring, the DepEd Bohol Division implemented a reformed recruitment and selection system for the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 hiring cycles. This study evaluated the system's effectiveness as experienced by teacher applicants, focusing on four dimensions: process efficiency, fairness, usability of the applicant portal, and overall satisfaction. Grounded in Strategic Human Resource Management, Organizational Justice Theory, and the Technology Acceptance Model, the study used a descriptive-evaluative design to analyze data from 902 valid survey responses. The instrument, which yielded a Cronbach's alpha of 0.88, underwent pilot testing to ensure internal reliability. Descriptive statistics revealed high ratings across all indicators: efficiency (M = 4.32, SD = 8.00), fairness (M = 4.23, SD = 8.49), portal usability (M = 4.24, SD = 8.77), and satisfaction (M = 4.30, SD = 8.47), with an overall mean of 4.27. A z-test showed no significant difference in ratings between the 2024 and 2025 cycles (p = 0.14), indicating consistent implementation. However, ANOVA results revealed statistically significant differences in perceptions based on the number of application attempts (p = 0.001) and current employment status (p = 0.012), suggesting disparities in experience among repeat applicants and those outside the DepEd system. Other demographic variables showed no significant variation in ratings. While the system was perceived as highly effective overall, the voluntary and non-randomized nature of the sample presents a limitation in generalizability. Nonetheless, the findings underscore the system's strengths in efficiency and fairness, while calling attention to the need for greater inclusivity and responsiveness to underrepresented voices in the applicant pool. The study provides empirical evidence that may guide other divisions and national policymakers in refining recruitment systems toward more meritocratic, transparent, and applicant-centered practices.



References:

  1. Alvarez-Sández, L., González-González, C. S., & Toledo, P. (2023). Streamlining administrative processes in educational institutions: A scoping review. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 51(1), 45–60.
  2. Anderson, R. (2021). Designing equitable digital systems in public education. International Journal of Educational Technology, 38(4), 412–427.
  3. Babbie, E. R. (2020). The practice of social research (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.
  4. Calderón, J. F., & Gonzales, E. C. (2018). Methods of research and thesis writing (Revised ed.). National Book Store.
  5. Civil Service Commission. (n.d.). Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM). https://www.csc.gov.ph/programs/pr/hrm
  6. Cohen-Charash, Y., & Spector, P. E. (2021). The role of fairness and satisfaction in recruitment success: A meta-analysis. Human Resource Management Review, 31(2), 100749.
  7. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
  8. Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340.
  9. Department of Education. (2007). DepEd Order No. 066, s. 2007: Revised Guidelines on the Appointment and Promotion of Other Teaching, Related Teaching and Non-Teaching Positions. https://www.deped.gov.ph
  10. Department of Education. (2023). DepEd Order No. 007, s. 2023: Guidelines on the recruitment and selection of teachers in public elementary and secondary schools. https://www.deped.gov.ph
  11. Department of Education. (2024). DepEd Order No. 020, s. 2024: Updated guidelines on recruitment and promotion in DepEd offices. https://www.deped.gov.ph
  12. Enad, F., & Pabalan, R. (2023). Employment management in the public schools: A proposed recruitment, selection, and placement system. Graduate Research Colloquium Proceedings.
  13. Gallup. (2024). Global workplace study: Applicant experiences and engagement. Gallup Research Publications.
  14. Gepte, M., & Dulay, R. (2024). Addressing deployment delays in Philippine public schools: A review of recruitment practices. Philippine Journal of Public Administration, 68(1), 89–103.
  15. Ghodosara, K. (2023). E-recruitment in government: Toward smarter hiring practices. Government IT Review, 17(2), 112–126.
  16. Greenberg, J. (1987). A taxonomy of organizational justice theories. Academy of Management Review, 12(1), 9–22.
  17. Harver. (2020). The state of digital hiring: 2020 benchmark report. https://harver.com
  18. He, J., Zhang, L., & Lee, M. (2025). Transparency and bias in digital hiring systems: Lessons from education recruitment. Asia-Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 63(2), 134–151.
  19. Ho, C. H., Villanueva, M. A., & Reyes, G. P. (2024). Justice perceptions in teacher recruitment: Procedural, distributive, and interpersonal dynamics. Philippine Journal of Educational Measurement, 39(1), 21–40.
  20. Kola, I., & Oyadiran, P. (2023). Efficiency in teacher recruitment: A comparative analysis of West African systems. Journal of Public Sector Human Resource Management, 5(3), 98–114.
  21. Libradilla, M. (2024). Aligning teacher demographics with human resource policies: A case in Albay. Journal of Philippine Education Policy and Practice, 12(1), 56–70.
  22. Limbona, A. R. (2025). Procedural bottlenecks and repeat applications: A study of teacher recruitment in Jolo. Mindanao Educational Research Journal, 9(2), 24–36.
  23. Philippine Constitution. (1987). The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines – Article IX-B, Section 3. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution
  24. Sharna, T. (2023). Recruitment systems and digital equity in public education. Global Education Systems Review, 45(2), 145–160.
  25. Toropova, A., Myrberg, E., & Johansson, S. (2021). Teachers' job satisfaction: The importance of school working conditions and teacher characteristics. Educational Review, 73(1), 71–97.
  26. Wright, P. M., & McMahan, G. C. (1992). Theoretical perspectives for strategic human resource management. Journal of Management, 18(2), 295–320.
  27. Zayed University. (2023). Usability assessment of academic recruitment portals. ZU Office of Institutional Research.

Tools


Copyright © 2026  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic