Teaching Competencies and Coping Mechanisms in the New Normal Education Among Public Elementary Teachers

Abstract

When COVID-19 became a pandemic, distant learning was adopted. As a result, teachers have had to work despite circumstances and stressors that may have affected their mental health. This study determined the teaching competencies and coping mechanisms in the new normal education among public elementary teachers in Oquendo 1 District, Schools Division of Calbayog City. The study employed a descriptive-correlation design using a survey questionnaire to gather the necessary data and information for the investigation. The tool was pilot tested and then subjected to a reliability test using Cronbach's alpha. In this study, 78 teachers from public elementary schools were selected using a combination of complete enumeration and convenience sampling techniques. Based on the result, the level of teaching competencies gained an interpretation of ‘competent across its variables such as instructional delivery, classroom management, formative assessment, and personal competencies. Moreover, personal competencies have the highest level, while formative assessment has the lowest level. Problem-focused, emotion-focused, and appraisal-focused coping mechanisms were interpreted as 'agree' based on the overall computed mean. Moreover, emotion-focused has the highest level of coping mechanism, while appraisal-focused is the least. Therefore, it can be inferred that public elementary teachers have prepared themselves to be skilled and competent in their teaching profession, which is relevant to the needs and demands of the new normal education. Moreover, they have adopted coping strategies or mechanisms that help them overcome the challenges and difficulties of the new normal education, allowing them to adjust and fit into the new educational environment. One of its recommendations is to provide ongoing training to public elementary school teachers to ensure that their pedagogical and professional competence continues to improve.