Filipino Teachers’ Attitudes towards Distance Learning during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, distance education has subsequently turned into the dominant mode of teaching, especially in the Philippines, where the majority of schools are still physically closed. Over a year since distance education was fully implemented in the country, it is essential to understand the general attitudes towards distance learning of Filipino teachers who have been teaching at various educational levels, including elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels, particularly in terms of student interaction, student performance, tool use, and availability, the support they have received from their schools, their willingness to handle distance and learning classes, as well as their experience in online teaching. The quantitative study was conducted with 151 respondents, using an online survey. Regarding their general attitude towards distance learning, the majority believe that distance education is not a viable alternative to face-to-face learning. In terms of student performance, a big majority believe that students learn less in distance-education classes; and academic dishonesty is more prevalent in such a setting. Teachers also had a more negative attitude towards the availability of an infrastructure for distance learning and the difficulty of managing the technology needed. Still, they have a more positive attitude regarding the support they receive from their schools. Overall, the study revealed that respondents have mixed attitudes towards distance learning, although there is a statistically significant difference between their gender and their attitudes towards distance learning. Moreover, the benefits of distance learning can be maximized, if appropriate training and support are provided to both teachers and students.

Difficulties, Factors, and Coping Mechanisms of Primary Grade Teachers in Teaching Reading Using Modular Distance Learning

“…These findings were supported by several studies that were also conducted during the pandemic. The study conducted by Bautista et al (2022), which examined the attitudes of Filipino teachers towards distant learning, revealed that, on the whole, teachers had a negative attitude towards distance learning. Also, Firmansyah and Bandono's (2022) study also revealed that addressing the issue of teacher motivation during the pandemic necessitates a focus on enhancing teachers' professional teaching competences.…”