Abstract:
Future elementary teachers play a critical role in shaping young learners, necessitating both strong
socio-emotional skills and instructional readiness. However, limited studies explore the
relationship between these competencies among aspiring educators in Zambales. This study aimed
to determine the socio-emotional skills and instructional readiness of future elementary teachers
in selected Teacher Education Institutions in Zambales during the second semester of Academic
Year 2024-2025. A descriptive-correlational research design was utilized, involving 139 future
elementary teachers and 139 mentors selected through total population sampling. A validated
researcher-designed questionnaire was used to gather data, yielding high reliability (? = .98 to .99).
Findings revealed that the respondents were predominantly 22 years old, female, from families
earning P20,000 to P39,999 monthly, had one sibling, and studied for 1.0 to 1.9 hours daily. Their
socio-emotional skills—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationshipbuilding—were moderately developed. Likewise, their instructional readiness—subject matter
knowledge, planning and delivery, classroom management, and assessment and feedback—was
moderately ready. Similar perceptions were noted among their mentors. A significant difference
was observed in socio-emotional skills based on age, sex, family income, number of siblings, and
study hours. No significant difference existed between self-perceived and mentor-perceived
instructional readiness. A strong positive significant correlation was found between socioemotional skills and instructional readiness, while a weak but non-significant correlation was noted
between socio-emotional skills and mentor-perceived instructional readiness. An enhanced
training program was developed to strengthen both competencies. This study contributes to teacher
education research by providing empirical evidence on the interplay between socio-emotional
skills and instructional readiness, guiding targeted interventions for future educators. |
