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Chapter IIntroductionRationaleEducation is very important to each one of us. It is a self-enlightenment process. It is crucial to the overall development of an individual and the society at large (Buzzle, 2013). It is highly regarded as a vehicle to alleviate ones economic and social status. Instrumental in educating an individual is the humble teacher who dedicates his/her life in the noble profession of teaching even in a difficult situation. Teaching requires a lot of creative strategies to effectively teach a child. Faculty are already feeling the pressure to lecture less, to make learning environments more interactive, to integrate technology into the learning experience, and to use collaborative learning strategies when appropriate (Teaching Strategies, 2010). Any experienced teacher knows one size fits all does not apply to instructional programs (Effective Teaching Strategies, 2015) and because the curriculum is on student-centered it is fitting to meet the needs of students. The environment, resources, readiness to learn, interest, and experiences are some of the factors that needs to be considered in the teaching learning process.The Philippine Education System includes both formal and non-formal education. In 2011, the 10 year basic education has change to 12 year basic education. The K to 12 or The Enhanced Basic Education comprise of Kindergarten plus 6 years elementary, 4 years Junior High School (JHS) and 2 years Senior High School (SHS). By structure, Philippine education is categorized either as basic (preschool, elementary and high school) or tertiary (college, graduate and technical/vocational). The Department of Education take charge of the basic education, while the CHED monitors the tertiary level and TESDA is in charge of Technical and Vocational Education (DepED).The Bureau of Non-formal Education (NFE) was then change into Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) which take charge of school leavers, out of school youths, and adult learners to have the chance to continue their education outside formal education(DepEd).Although basic education is free and compulsory, not all Filipino children can avail of this because of several factors that cause them to drop from school or never enter a school. According to UNICEF, an estimated 100 million children worldwide live at least part of their time on the streets. In the Philippines, a government report in 1998 put the figure at 1.2 million street childrenabout 70,000 of them in Metro Manila alone. Another report estimates that there are approximately 1.5 million children on the streets working as beggars, pickpockets, drug abusers and child prostitutes (ECPAT). Today, the number of children and youth living part of their lives on the streets in the Philippines could reach two million out of a total population of 84 million(Solidarity Philippines Australia Network, 2005).These children are the future of the nation and they will form the next generation to dominate the country. Alternative Learning System is formulated by the government to provide Filipino children access to basic education in a mode that fits their individual needs. The two major program of ALS, Literacy Program and the continuing program Accreditation and Equivalency Test are carried out by mobile teachers or regular teachers (called Instructional Managers) in school (DepEd). The ALS Programs are carried out by ALS Mobile Teachers and District ALS Coordinators in the 17 regions of the country. Both are DepEd employed and hold regular teacher items.Mobile Teachers are specialized teachers who live among the people in remotebarangaysof the country to conduct the BLP for illiterate out-of-school children, youth and adults who are willing to learn basic literacy skills and proceed to Continuing Education program: Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) for those who left formal school system or have no access to schools (DepEd).ALS program has done a lot of improvement in the life of many individuals who have undergone problems which cause them to leave school and have experienced difficulty in life. Most students who drop out of school have high hopes of going back and fulfill their dreams of finishing their studies. Many successful stories have been heard and appreciated by many because of ALS and through the dedication of mobile teachers who worked so hard to at least shed light to the lost hope of many learners.Knowing the struggles and perseverance of these unsung heroes, (mobile teachers) will likewise inspires and motivates other people to be of help to the marginalized group of the society and to be aware of what other supports is needed for them, to be more effective in delivering knowledge and skills to their learners.The researcher being an ALS School Coordinator would like to know what are the experiences of the ALS mobile teachers in dealing with their learners, the community and the resources they use in delivering their duties, hence this study will be conducted.Philosophical StanceThis study is an inductive atheoretical qualitative study in which ontological, epistemological, axiological, methodological, and rhetorical aspects will be tackled and discussed.a. Ontology- concerns the philosophy of existence and the assumptions and beliefs that we hold about the nature of being and existence( Qualitative research guidelines projects).Ontological Assumption:What is the nature of ALS? The Alternative Learning System is a free education program of the Department of Education under the Bureau of Alternative Learning System providing opportunity to individuals who cannot afford the existing formal education. Schedule of classes depends on the availability of the learners. The program provides a viable alternative to the formal education encompassing both the formal and informal source of knowledge and skills. (DepEd)What is the relevance of documenting the experiences of Mobile Teachers?Mobile Teachers are professional teachers assigned to cater the needs of out-of-school youths, adult learners and other individuals who wish to continue their basic education. Their experiences, values and principles learned as they perform their duty will provide as example for teachers (mobile and regular teacher) in delivering teaching strategies. According to Ladd (2013) teachers do better as they gain experiences. She added that they are better and more effective in raising student achievement. Unfolded experiences will tell circumstances that might be the cause of why learners cannot sustain their attendance to the end. It will likewise reveal how MTs handle their classes and what are the resources they still need to improve their teaching-learning process.b. Epistemology - is the theory of knowledge andthe assumptions and beliefsthatwehave about the nature of knowledge ( Robert Wood Foundation).Epistomology assumption:Relationship between the researcher and that which can be known.The researcher is a School ALS Coordinator which is also why she is interested to in documenting the experiences of MTs in the field including but not limited to their joys, successes, hardships, frustrations and how they overcome it. The researcher also acts as an Instructional Manager where she handles A&E review class in their school. Any efficient practice in improving the achievement of learners will likewise be adopted in her school.Relationship of the researcher with the study subject.Since the researcher is a School ALS Coordinator, she also have experienced having classes with OSY-dropouts, teenage mothers, workers, laborers and learners who realized the importance of education. She have experience more or less the same difficulties with the mobile teachers, thus she knows their plight and she believes that they have very rich experiences worth sharing.c. Axiology-is the recently adopted term used to cover the philosophy of values ( Hiles, 2013)What is the value of the research in relation to the research process?The purpose of this research study is to document the experiences of MTs in the field that will help the in the development of practices to be adopted and for the improvement of program implementation.d. Methodology- how we gain knowledge about the world or "an articulated, theoretically informed approach to the production of data" (Ellen, 1984).The most appropriate methodology in qualitative research in gathering data is using an interview schedule (Family Health International). Participants have the opportunity to respond more elaborately and in greater detail. In this way participants will be able to disclose the things that happened to them be it happy or sad especially if there is trust to the researcher. What is most important is the truthfulness in the story of the participant.e. RhetoricalWhat is the most appropriate language and voice to be used in reporting results?This study, although limited in scope in the sense that the participants came from a common location, is intended to be used for the construction of future learning modules and guides in the implementation of ALS mobile teaching. As such, the best format to be followed is the APA format for journal writing. The intended readers of this study are primarily the teachers, school heads, and other stakeholders of the educational system. Thus, it must be written in simple but concise language which qualitatively describes the results but is limited factual descriptions in order to minimize personal biases and preferences.Statement of PurposeThe purpose of this phenomological qualitative study is to describe the experiences of the ALS Mobile Teachers in the Division of Iloilo City, School Year 2015-2016. This study seeks to answer the following questions:1. What are the significant experiences of the ALS Mobile Teachers during their first two years in service in dealing with their ;

I. Learners.a. different age groupb. employment statusc. learning experiencesd. readiness to learnII. Communitya. peace and orderb. populationc. cooperationd. educational orientationIII. Resourcesa. Learning centerb. Learning materialsc. Supply and equipment 2. What support system was assisted the MTs during the first two years of teaching? 3. What are the challenges/problems encountered and the coping mechanism applied? 4. What values and learning has been derived from their experiences? 5. What theory and Teacher Induction Program can be designed?Significance of the StudyThe results of this study will benefit the following:ALS Mobile Teachers. The MTs will be more motivated to continue teaching out-of-school youths, adult learners and other persons in the barangay in spite of difficulties, hardships and frustrations as long as they can give them hope and improve their way of life.Division ALS Coordinator. This study will serve as the guidelines for improvement and monitoring. It will be the bases of needed support for the MTs.Stakeholders. This study will be the basis of how the stakeholders can help for the betterment of the learners and effectivity of the MTs.Community. This study will inform the community bout the importance of ALS and will encourage them to lend their support.Parents- The parents will be encouraged to support their children in their dream of finishing their education in spite of the many hindrances that comes their wayDepartment of Education. The DepED with will be very proud if all the learners will go back to school and be educated because ultimately they will reach their EFA 2015 goal.Learners- the learners they will be more inspired and motivated knowing how sincere and dedicated are their teachers in nurturing them and providing them the education and skills they need.Definition of TermsALS Mobile Teachers. Mobile Teachers are specialized teachers who live among the people in remotebarangaysof the country to conduct the BLP for illiterate out-of-school children, youth and adults who are willing to learn basic literacy skills and proceed to Continuing Education program: Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) for those who left formal school system or have no access to schools (DepEd)ALS mobile teacher in this study refer to mobile teachers in the Division of Iloilo City who handles the two basic ALS program-basic literacy and continuing education program- A&E.Experience. As a general concept comprises knowledge of or skill of some thing or some event gained through involvement in or exposure to that thing or event.(Memidix Dictionary)Learner. Someone who is learning something; beginner (Collins Dictionary)

In this study learner refer to student who studies in the ALS program in the Division of Iloilo City.

Chapter 2METHODOLOGYThis chapter deals with the methodology of the present investigation regarding the lived experiences of ALS mobile teachers. Qualitative research is most appropriate in this study because the researcher wish to describe and understand experience, ideas, beliefs and values (Palgrave Study Skills)of ALS mobile teacher.Data Gathering ProceduresIn order to gather data on this study, the researcher formulated an interview schedule which is an appropriate instrument to be used. According to (An Invitation to Qualitative Research) guiding research questions are generally open-ended, allowing for a multiplicity of findings to emerge. Before this interview schedule will be administered to the participants in this study, it will be first submitted for content validation to a panel of experts. The Eight-Point Criteria for Content Validation by Good and Scates will be used in the validation of the instrument. When all the validators answered positively the Criteria, it meant that the instrument was a valid instrument to gather data in this study. Since the participants in this study were assigned in the different barangays in the Division of Iloilo City, they will be first gathered and have a short orientation about the interview schedule. Then each participant will be provided with a notebook where they can write the answers to the questions that the researcher would give. The questions will be written down in the notebook so that anytime they would like to answer the questions they can just open the notebook and write their answers. The researcher will give them at least two weeks to answer all the questions.After two weeks, all the participants will again be gathered for the collection of notebook and a short one-on-one talk will be conducted to further confirm their claim in the notebook. Conversation will focus on the exchange of experiences among the participants to strengthen their bonding and to adopt whatever best practices have been done to improve learners cohort participation and increase A&E passers. The conference will be recorded for the use of the study.Environment/LocaleThis study will be conducted in the Division of Iloilo City. Iloilo City, officially theCity of Iloilo(Hiligaynon:Dakbanwa sang Iloilo;Tagalog:Lungsod ng Iloilo;Spanish:Ciudad de Ilolo), is ahighly urbanizedcity onPanayIsland in thePhilippines, and the capital city of the province ofIloilo. It is the regional center of theWestern Visayasas well as the center of theIloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area. In the 2010 census, Iloilo City had a population of 424,619 with a 1.8% population annual growth rate.For the Metropolitan Area, total population is at 878,621(Wikipedia, 2015)Political BoundariesThe City of Iloilo is composed of six (6) Districts and One Hundred Eighty (180) barangays. (source: Iloilo City Planning and Development Office)As to education Iloilo City being the center of education in Western Visayas Region, the city and the province of Iloilo have a total of ten (10) major universities, eight (8) large universities in the city and two (2) in the province of Iloilo. The Department of Education Division of Iloilo City covers 88 private schoolsand 52 public schools.(wikipedia)ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEMSummary of 2012 ALS A&E (Elementary and Secondary) in Iloilo City (as of June 2013)Test RegistrantsTotalTest TakersTotalPercentage of TakersTest PassersTotalPercentage of Passers

2,1911,39063%58644%

Summary of 2013 ALS A&E (Elementary and Secondary) in Iloilo City (as of June 2014)

Test RegistrantsTotal

Test TakersTotalPercentage of TakersTest PassersTotalPercentage of Passers

2,2522,02589.92%64431.80

Source: DepEd Region VIALS mobile teachers in Iloilo are also from Iloilo City. This is because the Department of Education is following the localization scheme of accepting applicants. They have undergone the usual recruitment process and have passed all the qualification requirements needed.ParticipantsThe informants of this study are ALS mobile teachers of the Iloilo City. There are seven mobile teachers in the Division of Iloilo City and they were assigned to cover all barangay in the city. One teacher may handle two barangay the whole day depending on the number of learners in the barangay.Instruments.The instruments to be used in this study are questionnaires and a notebook where they can answer the questions asked.Data Gathering ProceduresAll ALS mobile teachers will be requested to gather and the researcher will notify them about the nature of the study. They will be asked questions and will be required to write the answers in the notebooks provided for them. During the last meeting with the mobile teachers, there will be a one-on-one interview to confirm their answers in the notebook.

Interview Guide on ALS Mobile Teachers Lived ExperiencesThis interview guide aims to know and understand the experiences and challenges of ALS mobile teachers in their first two years of service. Their experiences will give light as to how mobile teachers handle their teaching-learning process in the barangay.Part I - Personal Information: Please answer the ff. by putting a check mark (/) in each item.Name ________________________ Sex: a) Male____ b) Female ____Age: (in years) _______Civil status: a) Single ______; b) Married _______; Widow/Widower _____Name of station school: ______________________________Name of barangay assigned: ___________________________________________Educational Attainment : a) BEED/BSED _________ b) Other courses but with required educational subjects ________ c) Bachelors degree with units in MA___________d) MA and above __________Part II- Family BackgroundName of Father _____________________________ Age (in years) _____Occupation __________________ Eductl Attain. ___________________Name of Mother ____________________________ Age (in years) ______ Occupation ________________ Eductl Attain.___________________No. Of Siblings ______ a) dependent _______ b) employed _________Occupation of Spouse __________________ No.of children ________ Part III- Main InterviewDirection: Please answer the following questions as best as you can. Whatever answers you will give will be held in utmost confidence. Thank you for your cooperation. 1. Why did you want to be a teacher? Or who wanted you to be a teacher?2. When you were applying for a teaching job, what are the hardships and joys that have you experienced?3. How did you feel when you were appointed as mobile teacher?4. Were you asked prior to your appointment as mobile teacher if you will accept the job?5. Who oriented you about your job?6. What was then your reaction about the job?7. How did you plan your work as a Mobile Teacher?8. Can you describe your plans?9. After your appointment did you attend seminars or trainings?10. Are you happy with your present work as ALS mobile teacher?11. What drives you to continue with your job as an ALS mobile teacher?12. What can you say about ALS? Does the teaching approach work?13. What suggestions do you have to increase the passing rate?14. What other experiences in teaching do you consider as memorable?15. If you are given a chance to choose again, would you still be a mobile teacher?16. What values and learning have you learned as a mobile teacher?Barangay17. Did you give a courtesy call to the Barangay Chairman?18. How many barangays were your areas of responsibility?19. Were the members of the community cooperative?20. What support did the community give you?21. Were the parents of the learners supportive enough in the studies of their children?Learner22. How did you invite your learners to study and take the A&E test?23. What kind of learners did you have?24. Did you find any problems in your first day of teaching?25. How did your learners accepted you?26. What problems did you have with your learners?27. How did you solve your problem with your learners?28. What is your survival rate for the past three years?(survival rate= no. of learners who took the A&E test/total no. of learners times 100)29. What is your passers rate for the past three years?(passers rate=no. of passers/total no. of test takers times 100)Resources30. What kind of learning centre do you have?31. Are your learning materials adequate enough for the proposed learning areas to cover?32. What other instructional materials did you use?33. What are the different learning strategies did you employ?34. Do you have problems on learning materials? 35. How did you solve your problem on learning materials?

REFERENCES

Ellen, RF. (1984). Introduction. In RF Ellen (Ed.), Ethnographic Research: A guide to general conduct (research methods in social anthropology) (pp. 1-12). London: Academic Press.Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Qualitative research guidelines projects Retrieve June 12, 2015 http://www.qualres.org/HomePhil-3514.html

Computer Alternative Learning System Retrieved June 10, 2015 http://www.deped.gov.ph/alsBuzzle, Why is Education so Important Retrieved June 11, 2015 http://www.buzzle.com/articles/why-is-education-so-important.htmlRobert Wood Johnson Foundation, Qualitative research guidelines projects Retrieve June 12, 2015 http://www.qualres.org/HomePhil-3514.htmlTeaching Strategies Retrieved June 10, 2015 http://www.gmu.edu/resources/facstaff/part-time/strategy.html