Challenges of a School in Teaching and Learning: A Grounded Theory

Education amidst COVID 19 was a big challenge faced by the government as It challenges the educational system in terms of financial, technological, and emotional constraints faced by the administrators, teachers, and students. This study was able to identify the challenges of teachers and students in teaching and learning, as well as how these challenges are addressed with solutions in the context of the new normal. The study made use of a qualitative research design to gather in-depth insights about the problem and generate new ideas for research. Theoretical sampling is used as prescribed for grounded theory. It identifies the participants which allow a theory to emerge and supports the conducting of interviews with an initial interview from the school principal until saturation is achieved. The results of the study showed that the school recognizes the challenges like teachers’ complaints, insufficiency of the number of employees in school, accountability of school’s properties, current principal’s role, the new normal situation, constraints of school activities, transportation issues, limitation of transaction in school, issues of onsite monitoring, choice of modality, the safety of parents and teachers, and coordination with the barangay officials. In addition, challenges for teachers are teaching delivery and strategies, assurance of students’ learning, poor internet connectivity, the authenticity of assessment, and the safety of teachers and parents. The teachers also observed the issues faced by the students such as parental support, inability to meet the resources needed for learning, modality issues, adjustment to the new normal way of education, and failure of producing outputs on target dates. The school responded with solutions like collaboration among staff, good and strong relationships with different stakeholders, and transformational leadership of the principal. The mechanism utilized in addressing the challenges faced is a learning continuity plan, an agreed choice of modality, and capacity building program.