Assessing Pre-Service Teacher Readiness Across Degree Programs: A Comparative Institutional Study

Abstract

This descriptive-comparative quantitative study assessed the readiness of graduating pre-service teachers across degree programs using the National Aptitude and Normative Test for Educators (NANTE). The study analyzed cleaned numerical score records from 388 graduating education students of Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University during School Year 2025-2026. Respondents were grouped into Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED; n = 54), Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED; n = 47), Bachelor of Technology and Livelihood Education (BTLED; n = 66), Bachelor of Technical-Vocational Teacher Education (BTVTED; n = 97), and Bachelor of Physical Education (BPED; n = 124). Means and standard deviations described performance in General Education, Professional Education, and overall average scores. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s honestly significant difference test identified program-level differences. BSED obtained the highest overall average score (M = 70.17, SD = 2.74), whereas BEED obtained the highest Professional Education score (M = 70.36, SD = 3.07). BPED recorded the lowest overall average (M = 68.37, SD = 1.88). Average NANTE scores differed significantly across programs, F(4, 383) = 7.65, p < .001. Post-hoc comparisons showed that BSED and BEED students outperformed selected BPED and BTVTED groups. The findings support targeted review interventions, curriculum alignment, and cross-program mentoring to strengthen theoretical preparation for licensure examinations.