Challenges of the Novice Public School Teachers in Distance Education amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
22 Pages Posted: 7 Dec 2022
Date Written: November 5, 2021
Abstract
With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, education migrated to distance learning. The transition to distance learning created massive changes in different aspects which brought challenges and problems to the educational sector, specifically teachers who are on the frontline of the delivery of learning (Robosa, Paras, Perante, & Alvez, & Tus,2021). The emergence of different challenges in the practices of education confronted teachers specifically novice teachers who are just gaining confidence in the public school system of education. The first years of teaching in public schools are critical for novice teachers as they encounter several challenges brought on by different factors.
The current study explored the challenges experienced by novice public school teachers in the implementation of distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic that still happening today. The scope is delimited to five (5) novice public secondary school teachers from, Baras, Rizal, Philippines with less than three years of teaching experience in the public school. Data were collected by conducting a semi-structured interview using an online platform convenient for purposively selected participants. The findings of the study revealed that novice teachers encountered different challenges such as workload, assessment and evaluation, communication, and teaching and learning process. The coping mechanism was also identified as follows: support from colleagues and superiors, having a positive outlook, attending faculty meetings, webinars, and Learning Activity Cell.
It also showed that novice teachers experienced difficulties in transitioning to the new setup of education but they are very positive in dealing with them. The support that they received from their colleagues and superiors inspired them to do their responsibilities despite the difficulties brought on by the pandemic. Moreover, most of the teachers perceived these challenges as motivation. The findings of this study will become a basis for creating clear policies and programs to support novice teachers’ long-term success in public schools.
Keywords: Novice Teachers, Challenges, COVID-19-Pandemic, Distance Education
JEL Classification: I
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation