Author : Bustamante, Rosita J.

Summary : The study sought to determine the DAT students performance in the mastery of the basic agriculture skills in the three pilot PTIAs in Mindano, namely: Katipunan National Agricultural School, Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte (Region IX); Northern Mindanao Institute of Science and Technology, Ampayon, Butuan City (Region X); and University of Southeastern Philippines - College of Agriculture, Apokon, Tagum, Davao (Region XI). It also sought to find out the extent of contribution of the different factors such as: teacher-related factors, institution-related factors, test/screening factor, and student-related factors to the DAT students' performance. The respondents of the study were the 114 students proportionately and randomly selected, and all the 12 instructors handling the practicum course in the three pilot schools. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, Spearman correlation coefficient, factor analysis, and path analysis were used to analyze the data. The use of factor analysis resulted in the identification of new (synthetic) variables under the following factors: (a) teacher-related factors (educational preparation, class size and teaching load); (b) institution-related factors (instructional facilities, and the farm); (c) test/screening factor (NATEAT score); and (d) student-related factors (perception of teaching effectiveness and course valuing, achievement in curricular and extra-curricular activities, and age). Path analysis was used to determine the causal relationships among these variables and the DAT students' performance. Findings of the study showed that the DAT students' performance in the mastery of the basic agriculture skills is on the satisfactorily without assistance and/or supervision". These skills when mastered would produce graduates possessing the basic psycho-behavioral characteristics: practicality, resourcefulness, productiveness and leadership. Out of the eight variables (determinants), the achievement in curricular and extra-curricular activities.