ABSTRACT
This descriptive-qualitative study determined the experiences of teachers in seven cities in the conduct of research in education as basis for policy recommendation in the Municipality of Alimodian during the school year 2024-2025. Based on the results of the in-depth interview with the participants, it was found out that teachers in seven cities experienced lots of documents to prepare, feeling excited, feeling nervous and scared, limited resources and difficulty in conducting research, and involvement of participants. It was found out that the challenges encountered by teachers in seven cities in conducting research were availability of participants/respondents, bad weather, looking for literature and completing the process, time management, and limited resources. Based on the results, teachers in seven cities cope with these challenges through conducting research, flexibility, development of a support system, intrinsic motivation and open mindedness.
Keywords: Teachers, Seven Cities, Experiences, Research, Policy Recommendation
INTRODUCTION
Experiences play a vital part in people’s lives. As working professionals, teachers, through life progression, and each of them has their way of dealing with their lived experiences. The dangerous battle experienced by teachers as individuals look inside the classroom and in the human hearts. They struggle with fear, disappointments, stress, lack of self-confidence, feelings of incompleteness, dependency, and the inability to cope with the conditions in their daily lives. While these experiences and challenges can defeat everyone, they can also catalyze enhancement in preparation for the promising development in the cognitive, spiritual, social, and personal aspect and understanding of one’s professional opportunities and trials (Bilbao, 2012).
Teachers play a vital role during formative years of development in the life of every learner. The importance of teachers is something that cannot be underestimated. Teachers stand as second parent, an encourager, a motivator, a molder of one’s mind, and a maker of difference in shaping learners to be better citizens of the country.
Teaching in a far-flung area specifically at Dao Primary School, which is 28 kilometers away from the town and can only be accessible through motorcycle is really challenging. It is a challenge that entails a lot of courage and perseverance to perform certain tasks assigned.
However, it is a privilege for teachers to have been given an opportunity to serve their students and their community.
Teaching in a remote school gives teachers more patience and inspiration to perform their best in teaching their learners. They get inspiration from their students who also walk to school for 5 kilometers. Some of these teachers endure staying at the staff house for five days leaving their kids at home. It must be disheartening on their part, but because of their love and passion for teaching they pursue and do their duties and obligations for the best interest of the students.
The distance of their schools from their houses is never a hindrance for them to perform the task equally, while some of them are pursuing graduate studies for their professional growth.
The researcher observed that this problem has affected teachers especially in accomplishing that different tasks, in school.
Basically, teachers are responsible for teaching basic knowledge to learners especially when they are assigned in far flung schools because learners depend on them. So, this means that they need extreme dedication to meet expectations from the community.
The researcher believed that teaching is a great privilege. However, it becomes challenging due to various tasks and responsibilities assigned to teacher.
To handle challenges teachers employed activities such as hanging out with their colleagues and learners in the farm, swimming at the mini falls and cooking grilled bananas. This coping mechanism help them overcome stress and help them relax even in a short period of time.
In view of this, the experiences and observation of the researcher served as the reason in conducting this study.
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