Author
Grace Joy Abrenica-Cabuguas*
Cebu Technological University – Main Campus, R. Palma Street corner M.J. Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City, Philippines
Department of Education – Talisay City Division, Cebu, Philippines
Abstract
This study examined the application of computational pattern analysis techniques to investigate administrative efficiency profiles in public schools within a selected Department of Education (DepEd) Division. Anchored in Simon’s (1997) bounded rationality theory and Hood’s (1991) New Public Management framework, the research explored how algorithmic classification and behavioral pattern extraction could support administrative decision-making in a DepEd setting. Using a descriptive-correlational design, data were gathered from 120 school administrative personnel across 15 schools through a validated Likert-type survey instrument covering five efficiency dimensions: compliance and documentation management, resource allocation effectiveness, personnel coordination, policy implementation fidelity, and data-driven decision-making capacity. K-means clustering identified three governance profiles, high-, moderate-, and low-efficiency, while Apriori association rule analysis surfaced behavioral co-occurrence patterns linked to governance performance. Findings showed that schools demonstrating both strong data-driven decision-making and high documentation compliance were most likely to be classified as high-efficiency institutions (support = 0.72, confidence = 0.88). A significant positive correlation was also found between data-driven decision-making capacity and overall institutional efficiency (r = 0.61, p < 0.01). The study concludes that computational governance analytics constitute a viable and theoretically grounded tool for enhancing DepEd school governance and recommends the institutionalization of such approaches within existing school improvement frameworks.
Keywords: Computational governance analytics, administrative efficiency, New Public Management, DepEd, k-means clustering, association rule mining.
*Corresponding author/ Email: grace.joy.cabuguas@gmail.com
DOI: http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0502894
Recommended citation:
Abrenica-Cabuguas, G. J. (2026). Critical analysis of administrative efficiency in DepEd: A study in administrative theory application. Pantao (The International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences) 5 (2), 136-143. http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0502894
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