The Experiences of Teaching Professionals in Private Institutions during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Basis for Proposed Stress Management Program

Abstract

How will our country achieve quality education if teachers aren’t able to perform their job? The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of teaching professionals in private institutions as they may have experienced occupational burnout during the global pandemic. This is a qualitative and phenomenological study of five (5) teaching professionals within the age range of twenty-five (25) to fifty-four (54) who have five (5) or more years of teaching and are affiliated with private institutions wherein they are engaged in online distance teaching. The researchers classified and analyzed common themes from the data collected during online interviews. The researchers formulated four (4) main themes: (1) The Pros and Cons of Teaching, (2) The Struggles of Online Distance Teaching, (3) The Implications of Being a teacher, and (4) The Strategies to Reclaim Balance. Practical & Management Implications: Due to the effective coping mechanisms and supportive environment, results showed that the teachers were able to effectively manage their stress to prevent occupational burnout. Recommendations and future directions are discussed.