CHALLENGES FACED BY THE TEACHERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC:

A FIRST YEAR COLLEGE OF EDUCATION’S PERSPECTIVE

by:

Bagkat, Arginette E.
Berenger, Jennilyn
Donque, Gellian Mae S.

Abstract

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2

virus. Symptoms include mild to moderate respiratory illness,
but some may require medical attention. The pandemic has
forced educators and learners to stay at home, causing
challenges for the teachers. This research project aims to
understand the difficulties faced by the teacher’s base on the
perspective of the learners who experienced the pandemic using
the Likert Scale Method. We are aiming to raise awareness of
the challenges faced by teachers during the pandemic.

Keywords: Covid 19 Pandemic, Challenges of the educators

INTRODUCTION
One of the most recent global public health crises is the COVID-19 pandemic. Global
economic recession (Fernandes, 2020), school closures (Viner et al., 2020), travel restrictions
(Chinazzi et al., 2020), as well as rumors and controversies (Enitan et al., 2020) have all been
brought on by the infections rapid rise. The implementation of community lockdown, quarantine,
and travel restrictions has had a significant impact on the lives of people of all ages. The
governments now face an unprecedented challenge in ensuring that learning should continue
(Chang & Yano, 2020) as a result of these preventive measures. As a result, many educators and
learners lack the social interaction and communication that are essential for learning and growth
(UNESCO, 2020).

To aid every Filipino student in this pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd)
seeks to address the challenges in basic education through its Basic Education Learning
Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) under DepEd Order nos. 007, 12, 13, and 14 series 2020 to develop a
learning continuity plan (LCP) and health and safety protocols (Fajardo, 2020). With these, the
Philippines Basic Education has shifted to distance learning from face-to-face classes for 2020-
2021 (DepEd, 2020). Unfortunately, not all people have access to technology which affects
billions of students (De Leon, 2021). Correspondingly to this, most academic institutions must
develop new learning platforms and instructional delivery methods. The Department of
Education enjoined all levels of education. Instead of face-to-face with the students, adopts the
more applicable and understandable learning delivery modes such as distance learning and
homeschooling. As a new normal mode of education delivery, distance learning was initiated to
overcome the challenges of access, equity, and quality of education (DepEd, 2020).
We, the researchers conduct this study in order to determine the challenges faced by the
teachers during the Covid-19 Pandemic. This study compile with the researchers started last
April 26, 2023 up to June 10, 2023. Only 30 selected Students are the respondents of this
research. This study is for school year 2022-2023 only. The study focuses on the College of
Education first year students and will not cover the other problem that are not necessarily
connected to the study.
METHODS
Our study conducted at Tagoloan Community College in order to understand the
challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers surveyed 30 First year
Education Students. The questionnaire was created using the 5 Likert scales such as: (5) Strongly
Satisfied, (4) Satisfied, (3) Neutral, (2) Unsatisfied, (1) Strongly unsatisfied, in order to
statistically analyze and critically understand the interpretation of the gathered data by; The
researchers used this formula M=(F/N) where in M is the Mean, F is the Frequency and N is the
Number of respondents. And used the hypothetical range where: (1.00-1.75) means strongly
unsatisfied, (1.76-2.50) means unsatisfied, (2.51-3.25) neutral, (3.26-4.50) satisfied and the
highest range is (4.51-5.00) which means strongly satisfied. The instrument used in this study
was paper survey. By carrying out this research we were able to highlight the teacher’s life and
journey amidst COVID-19. This investigation did not attempt any experimental manipulation.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
As the researchers gathered and computed the data, the findings shown that based on the
perspective of college students major in Education; The top 2 challenges faced by teachers
during COVID-19 are “Can cooperate by answering though the online class” and “Face to face
classes can help to improve my social interaction and by participating more on their topics in
middle of discussion” with a same average mean of1.6 and with a qualitative description of Very
Dissatisfied; Therefore, many students are not cooperating in class whether it is online or face to
face by not having a confidence to participate in any indoor or outdoor activities. Hence, in this
study it emphasized that“Can able to understand the topic through Google Meet” with the highest
mean of 4.57 and have a qualitative description of Very Satisfied. To support this finding, the
students of Tagoloan Community College taking the Major of Social Studies are experiencing
this modalities and we are able to comprehend, appreciate, and to adapt that one modality.
Moreover, based on the findings towards the challenges there are 3 and those are “Able to join
the class on time”, “Modular distance learning helps us students to improve our perception” and
again the “Can able to understand the topic through Google Meet” by having a total mean of 2.13
also have a qualitative description of Dissatisfied which mean that many of the students are
having a hard time by understanding the lesson by their own or without any guidance on how
they should do it and some of them are experiencing a hard time by joining the class on time
because of the internet connectivity. While, continuing the result “I can focus more when I'm at
home” with a total mean of 1.7 with a qualitative description of Very Dissatisfied which mean
that by being at home there is an increased amount of distractions and opportunities to lose focus
on the work given. The distractions arise because of the amount of time we spend on
asynchronous learning. At school, 100% of the day is synchronous learning.
CONCLUSIONS
Educators faced numerous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic as they navigated
the transition to online teaching. Overnight, they had to adapt their teaching methods and master
digital tools to deliver lessons virtually. This sudden shift required significant time and effort to
create engaging online content, modify curriculum, and learn new technologies. Additionally,
educators faced the challenge of ensuring equal access to education for all students, considering
disparities in technology and internet access. They had to find innovative ways to maintain
student engagement and address individual learning needs in a remote setting. Despite these
struggles, educators demonstrated resilience, creativity, and a deep commitment to their students,
working tirelessly to provide quality education during these unprecedented times.
 APPENDIX A
Questionnaire
CHALLENGES FACED BY THE TEACHERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC:
A FIRST YEAR COLLEGE OF EDUCATION’S PERSPECTIVE

Name (Optional):
Age:
Gender:

Instruction: For each statement, please check whether you are very satisfied, satisfied, neutral,
dissatisfied, and very dissatisfied.

5 – Very satisfied 4- Satisfied 3- Neutral 2- Dissatisfied 1- Very Dissatisfied

No STATEMENT 5 4 3 2 1
.
1 Online Classes is not suitable for classes because
sometimes the connectivity of the internet is poor.
2 Internet connectivity helps me throughout my
activities on time.
3 I can focus more when I'm at home.
4 Staying home by doing my activities and also the
chores.
5 My scores and grades are more improving by using
the new learning modalities.
6 Can able to understand the topic through Google
Meet.
7 Able to join the class on time.
8 Can cooperate by answering though the online class.
9 Modular distance learning helps us students to
improve our perception.
10 Face to face classes can help to improve my social
interaction and by participating more on their topics
in middle of discussion.
 APPENDIX B
Letter to the Respondents

Dear Sir/Ma’am

We, Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Social Studies students of Tagoloan

Community College are currently working on our publisher paper entitled “Climate Change
awareness and impact among College students”.

In relation to this, we humbly ask permission to allow us to conduct our survey. The
survey would only last about 3-5 minutes. All the information that will be received is treated as
strictly confidential and just for academic purposes only. We wish for your honest responses.
Thank you and have a nice day.

Sincerely Yours,
Bagkat, Arginette
Berenger, Jennilyn
Donque, Gellian Mae

Noted By:
FREDERICK W. GOMEZ, PhD
Dean, College of Education
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 APPENDIX C
Documentation

A. This data is gathered from 32 respondents who filled out the google forms survey in
Tagoloan Community College that are taking the course of Batchelor of Secondary
Education.

Online Classes is not suitable for classes because sometimes the connectivity of the internet is
poor.

Internet connectivity helps me throughout my activities on time.

I can focus more when I'm at home.

Staying home by doing my activities and also the chores.

My scores and grades are more improving by using the new learning modalities.

Can able to understand the topic through Google Meet.

Able to join the class on time.

Can cooperate by answering though the online class.

Modular distance learning helps us students to improve our perception.

Face to face classes can help to improve my social interaction and by participating more on their
topics in middle of discussion.
 CURRICULUM VITAE

ARGINETTE ERMAC BAGKAT

Poblacion 2, Villanueva Misamis Oriental
09276234054
arginetteerms@gmail.com

PERSONAL INFORMATION

BIRTH DATE: August 6, 2003

BIRTH PLACE: Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental

AGE: 19

RELIGION: Roman Catholic

NATIONALITY: Filipino

CIVIL STATUS: Single

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

TERTIARY Tagoloan Community College

Baluarte, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental
Batchelor of Secondary Education Major in Social Studies
2022-2023

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School

Don Apolinar Velez St, Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental
Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS)
2021-2022

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Saint Mary’s Academy of Tagoloan

Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental
2019-2020

ELEMENTARY Vicente N. Chavez Memorial Central School

Poblacion 2, Villanueva Misamis Oriental
 2015-2016
CURRICULUM VITAE

JENNILYN LABITAD BERENGER

Zone 2, AlaeManoloFortich, Bukidnon
09058017392
jenniiynberenger@gmail.com

PERSONAL INFORMATION

BIRTH DATE: May 4, 2004

BIRTH PLACE: Cagayan de Oro City

AGE: 19

RELIGION: IFI

NATIONALITY: Filipino

CIVIL STATUS: Single

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

TERTIARY Tagoloan Community College

Baluarte, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental
Batchelor of Secondary Education Major in Social Studies
2022-2023

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Alae National High School

Zone 8, AlaeManoloFortichBukidnon
Technology Vocational Livelihood – Information
Communication
2021-2022

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Alae National High School

Zone 8, AlaeManoloFortichBukidnon
2019-2020

ELEMENTARY Alae Elementary School

Zone 2, AlaeManoloFortichBukidnon
2015-2016
 CURRICULUM VITAE

GELLIAN MAE SUMALPONG DONQUE

Zone 3, Luz Banzon, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental
09463634675
gelliandonque26@gmail.com

PERSONAL INFORMATION

BIRTH DATE: January 6, 2004

BIRTH PLACE: Jasaan, Misamis Oriental

AGE: 19

RELIGION: Roman Catholic

NATIONALITY: Filipino

CIVIL STATUS: Single

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

TERTIARY Tagoloan Community College

Baluarte, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental
Batchelor of Secondary Education Major in Social Studies
2022-2023

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Jasaan Senior High School

Lower Jasaan, Misamis Oriental
Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS)
2021-2022

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Jasaan National High School

Lower Jasaan, Misamis Oriental
2019-2020

ELEMENTARY Luz Banzon Elementary School

Zone 1, Luz Banzon, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental
2015-2016