Philippine E-Journals

Working Conditions and Turnover Intentions of Teachers in Small Public Junior High Schools of Baguio City

Froidelyn Fernandez-Docallas | Ruth S. Batani

 

Abstract:

This study explored the teacher's working conditions and turnover intentions from six small public junior high schools of Baguio City using a sequential explanatory mixed-method design with 55 survey respondents and 24 interview and FGD participants. Teachers quantitatively described their working conditions as fair, while the majority qualitatively described the same as poor. Quantitative findings also revealed a low level of turnover intentions among teachers, but qualitative data say otherwise. Forcing teachers to pass learners who reasonably need to be retained for the sake of performance-based bonus is one of the cited reasons why teachers develop turnover intentions. However, despite the challenges at work, teachers find fulfillment in their service to young people and ‘good working relationship with fellow teachers as important coping mechanism. Overall, the study found no significant difference in the teachers’ level of perception of their working conditions when grouped according to sex, years in service, and civil status. The level of prevalence of turnover intentions differs significantly according to years in service, and working condition is significantly related to turnover intentions. Teachers’ coping mechanisms such as pagtitiis, malasakit, and finding comfort from their kapwa teachers sustained them in their profession.