TEACHING BEYOND THE COMFORT ZONE: EXPERIENCES OF OUT-OF-FIELD TEACHING

TEACHER EDUCATION SECONDARY

The educational system currently faces multiple challenges, including those related to teacher performance. Declining learner achievement and reduced educational quality are frequently linked to the effectiveness of teaching. This study aims to investigate specific teacher-related challenges faced by the Department of Education over recent decades. A shortage of qualified teachers in major areas and the practice of hiring teachers based on immediate subject needs contribute to the assignment of educators to out-of-field subjects. A validated survey questionnaire was used to gather data from the six informants, who were purposively selected from public secondary schools within the Municipality of Monkayo. Findings revealed that the informants experienced both negative and positive reactions when informed that they would teach out-of-field subjects. The teacher faced various challenges, including a lack of references, basic knowledge of the topic, content mastery, terminology, strategies for dealing with classroom behavior, and students’ abilities. Additionally, it has affected the teachers' professional capacity and confidence in teaching.

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