Lived Experiences of Teachers with Multiple Ancillary Functions: A Phenomenological Study

This study aimed to describe the journey of teachers with multiple ancillary functions. Specifically, it aimed to describe the challenges they encountered, explore their coping mechanisms, and gather learning insights from their experiences. A qualitative research design using a phenomenological approach was utilized, and purposive sampling was used to identify the 10 elementary teacher-participants from the Division of Davao City, Philippines. Informed consent was accomplished to ensure ethical standards, and data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion with the aid of an interview guide. The interviews were transcribed, organized, and analyzed using thematic coding to identify recurring ideas and emerging themes across the participants’ responses. Results revealed that the participants encountered challenges focused on being burdened with excessive workload, encountering work-life imbalance, feeling dissatisfied and guilty, facing unhealthy relationships with colleagues, and worrying about student learning. Further, the study showed that teachers made use of strategizing activities, seeking assistance from family members, and keeping personal values in coping with the hurdles they experienced. The findings also revealed that despite the difficulties associated with multiple ancillary functions, the participants developed important realizations from their experiences. They emphasized the value of being good to family members, effectively budgeting time, keeping personal values when enduring difficulties, ignoring colleagues who refuse to help, and maintaining teacher presence during classroom instruction. These insights reflected how teachers adjusted personally and professionally while handling multiple responsibilities. Hence, it is recommended that the Department of Education look into this existing situation and consider appropriate measures that may help reduce the burden of multiple ancillary functions, protect teachers’ instructional time, and support their effectiveness in carrying out both teaching and additional school responsibilities.

Education - Educational Management

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