Exploring the Multiple Intelligences of Learners in Higher Technical Vocational Institutions in the Caraga Region, Philippines

Gifted education in the Philippines faces significant challenges, including limited understanding, unequal access to programs, and culturally biased assessments. A lack of specialized resources, competent teachers, and sufficient funding further hampers the development of gifted learners. Prioritizing gifted education through policy modification, increased funding, and culturally sensitive approaches is vital to nurturing the students’ talents and enabling them to prosper. This study explored the identification of potentially gifted learners based on their self-perceived abilities in bodily-kinesthetic, visual-spatial, and logical-mathematical intelligence, as defined by Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. The research focused on students at Caraga State University-Cabadbaran Campus and used a quantitative survey questionnaire to assess perceived proficiency across the three intelligence areas. Findings revealed that students perceive themselves as approaching proficiency in bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, with a mean score of 3.18 and a standard deviation of 1.321. Visual-spatial intelligence (M = 3.23, SD = 0.816) and logical-mathematical intelligence (M = 2.80, SD = 0.822). This study provides valuable insights for educators seeking to tailor instruction and identify potentially gifted individuals by understanding student strengths across multiple intelligences.