Strengths and Areas for Improvement towards Career Advancement of Teachers in Coastal Schools

ABSTRACT :This study aims to determine the challenges faced by the coastal schoolteachers of MatnogDistrict, Division of Sorsogon Province, school year 2021-2022. It used a survey questionnaire to identify thedemographic profile of the teachers and employed interview schedule through guide questions to collect real-lifeexperiences and narratives of the challenges, strengths and areas for improvement. Similarly, the primarysources of data are the nine teaching personnel from Matnog I District and the six teaching personnel fromMatnog II District. Data from the demographic profile were tabulated, analysed and interpreted usingappropriate statistical tools such as frequency count and percentage. The study revealed that majority of theinformants are 31-35 years old, female, married, graduate of a baccalaureate degree, Teacher I for more than 5years, have an adjectival rating of outstanding in the Individual Performance Commitment Review Form andjoined division level seminar. Moreover, the identified challenges are categorized into incomplete credentials(master units and training/seminar), locale concern or proximity, budgetary or financial obligations, careresponsibilities, collective expectations and self-doubt. The strengths that was identified are age-groupresiliency, academic credentials, length of service, IPCRF rating and other ancillary involvements while theareas that need to improve are gender roles/family obligations, academic credentials and professionaldevelopment accomplishments. A teacher development plan for teachers in the coastal schools in Matnog wasproposed to help the teachers be eligible for career advancement despite proximity issue.

KEYWORDS :strength, areas for improvement, career advancement, teachers, coastal schools