Journal 1 - Teacher's Aspiration Toward Career Advancement
Journal 1 - Teacher's Aspiration Toward Career Advancement
Journal 1 - Teacher's Aspiration Toward Career Advancement
ABSTRACT:
This study determined the profile of teachers and their level of aspirations toward career advancement. The
study employed the descriptive research methodology and used the purposive sampling method with the criteria
of having at least 10 years of teaching experience and holding an entry-level teaching position, also known as
Teacher I, to include a sample of 45 teachers from public schools located in the province of Sorsogon for the
school year 2022-2023.
A survey questionnaire containing an adapted version of the Professional Engagement and Career Development
Aspirations Scale by Watt and Richardson (2008) served as the primary instrument for collecting quantitative
data. The collected data were processed and analyzed statistically using frequency, percentages, and the
weighted mean.
The findings also revealed that the majority of public-school teachers are middle-aged, female, married,
bachelor's degree holders, and have additional income from their spouses. The teachers' aspirations for career
advancement, along with their planned efforts, persistence, and professional development, were very important,
whereas their aspirations for leadership were moderately important.
Based on the results, it is recommended that public school teachers pursue graduate studies and obtain a degree
in their chosen field and the Department of Education may provide opportunities to enhance their professional
orientation and development, especially through the provision of graduate school scholarship grants. Also,
empower teachers to become school leaders through series of leadership training and workshops. The action
plan may be adopted and implemented by the school after further review and evaluation by the authorities.
Future studies about teachers’ aspirations toward career advancement may be conducted to supplement the
findings in this study.
Keywords: teacher, aspirations, career advancement, public school teachers, Sorsogon, Philippines
I. INTRODUCTION
A key to a positive and quality life is a productive career. The intent for a work-life balance is constant,
and so does career opportunities. People's career choices significantly impact human development, so they
endure processes and make wise decisions to achieve goals. It is inevitable for everyone to develop career
aspirations over time. Pagayanan (2021) stated that the success of one's career in employment depends on the
individual and the opportunities available in an organization.
Teaching as a career option may be influenced by personal, economic and social factors. Low, Ng, Hui,
and Cai (2017) defined triggers as events, experiences, people, or environments that either activate or inhibit an
individual's inner motivation to enter the teaching profession. It has been discovered that intrinsic and social
utility value appear to be the "drivers" of teaching decisions, along with a sense of compatibility of personal
attributes with the nature of teaching. Educational experiences also aid in stimulating such an interest. Nager
and Shapiro (2007) emphasize the importance of continuing to grow as a person and as a professional. To meet
professional demands, teachers may take the initiative to develop the expertise needed to advance as a
professional.
The Department of Education in the Philippines recognized the importance of professional standards in
the continuing professional development and advancement of teachers based on the principle of lifelong
learning. The Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST) were used to ensure that teachers are
properly equipped to effectively implement the K to 12 Program and utilized it for the selection and promotion
of teachers based on the set of standards. Teachers may choose the alternative career lines in school
administration or classroom teaching as stated in Chapter 6 Career Progression System for Public School
Teachers. The base of the career system is the classroom teacher (Teacher I, II, and III), with the highest
ARJHSS Journal www.arjhss.com Page | 136
American Research Journal of Humanities Social Science (ARJHSS)R) 2023
classroom teaching position being Master Teacher (I, II, III, and IV). The teacher can be promoted to
administrative career lines such as Head Teacher and Principal Positions.
Zamir (2018) cited the importance of career management and professional development for both individuals and
organizations. She also discussed the stages of professional development, which refer to long-term processes
throughout teachers’ professional lives. Thus, Tantawy (2020), teachers appear to have varying preferences for
opportunities throughout their career cycles. It is also stated that teachers are not a homogeneous group, but
rather represent a wide range of perspectives, experience, expertise, and openness to new ideas, as well as the
potential for leadership roles.
Purposes of Research
The study determined the level of career advancement aspirations among public school teachers in the
Province of Sorsogon. Hence, this study specifically tackles the [1] profile of public school teachers; [2] level of
aspirations of teachers toward career advancement when grouped according to their profile along planned effort,
persistence, professional development and leadership; [3] action plan.
II. METHODOLOGY
Research Design
The general objective of the study is to determine the teachers’ aspirations toward career advancement
in the province of Sorsogon for the school year 2022-2023. This study used the descriptive-survey method of
research, using a survey questionnaire with an adopted scale as an instrument.
The descriptive research design is mainly concerned with determining the research topic. Furthermore, a
quantitative research method was used to quantify the study's results based on the existing attitudes, behaviors,
and conditions of the study's respondents regarding some variable indicators.
Instrument
A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. The respondents' profile data
were collected and were limited to their age, gender, civil status, educational attainment, and other sources of
income. The survey questionnaire adopted the Professional Engagement and Career Development Aspirations
Scale by Watt and Richardson (2008). The scale had four dimensions: planned effort (4 items), persistence (4
items), professional development (5 items), and leadership (4 items); the responses ranged from 5 (extremely
important) to 1 (not at all important). The final form of the instrument consisted of two parts: the first part was
concerned with the profile of public school teachers; the second included the PECDA Scale.
Sex
Male 14 31
Female 31 69
Civil Status
Single 10 22
Married 29 64
Solo Parent 6 14
Educational Attainment
Master’s Degree Units 20 44
Bachelor’s Degree 25 56
The most important details in this text are the age of public school teachers in the Province of
Sorsogon. In terms of age, 4 public school teachers are under the age of 35 (9%), 12 are between the ages of 36
and 40 (27%), and 29 are ages 41 and above (64%). In terms of sex, 31 public school teachers (69% are female)
and 14 are male (31%). In terms of civil status, 64% are married, 22% are single, and a minority of 6, or 14%,
are solo parents. In terms of educational attainment, 20 respondents (44%) hold master's degree units, while the
remaining 25 (55%) hold baccalaureate degrees. In terms of additional sources of income, 49% have their
spouse's salary, 27% have businesses that also provide financial support, and the remaining 24% have no other
sources of income aside from their salaries as public school teachers.
In summary, the 45 public school teachers convey the following characteristics: 64% are at least 41
years old, 69% are female, and 64% are married. 56% have a bachelor's degree, and 49% report their spouse's
salary and compensation as other sources of income.
Table 2.A Level of Career Advancement of Teachers According to Profile on Planned Effort
Variables Highest Weighted Mean Average Average Score Verbal Description
Age 36 To 40 Years of Age 4.36 Very Important
Sex Female 4.16 Very Important
Civil Status Married 4.30 Very Important
Educational Attainment Bachelor’s Degree Holder 4.23 Very Important
The study found that the age group ranging from 36 to 40 years had the highest average weighted mean
score of 4.36, while the female group had the highest weighted mean average of 4.16, while the married teachers
had an average weighted mean of 4.30. Those with bachelor's degrees had the highest average weighted mean of
4.23, while those with no other sources of income had a weighted mean of 4.33. The teachers' planned efforts
were further described as very important. In summary, teachers' planned efforts were very important to female
teachers aged between 36 and 40 who were married, had a bachelor's degree, and had no other sources of
income.
Suryani (2018) found that individuals who have been in an organization for years would willingly
sacrifice their life to meet the organization's objective, and older people would prefer staying in the organization
than moving to a new place due to the requirement in a new job. Public school teachers' passion for their jobs is
still evident, and they want to keep striving even as they age.
The teaching profession is mostly dominated by women, with 82% of public elementary teachers (Deri
and Janer, 2020) and 69% of secondary public school teachers in Sorsogon are female (Flora, Renovalles, Janer,
& Deri, 2021). The same authors mentioned that men are more interested in the administrative role, with 75% of
school principals being male. Jena (2015) also found that marital status is a consistent predictor of
organizational commitment, as married people have more family responsibilities and require more stability and
security in their jobs. This makes them more likely to be committed to their current organization than their
unmarried counterparts.
Artino (2012) and Liu, Cheng, Hu, Pan, and Zhao (2020) found that self-efficacy affects an individual's
choice of activities, effort, and persistence. High self-efficacy increases positive task result expectancy and
decreases negative task process experiences, preventing procrastination. Teachers' current level of education
demonstrates a low level of self-efficacy, indicating they do not intend to perform both tasks simultaneously and
would rather maintain their current working status and condition.
This study reveals that teachers who maintain their salary as the main source of their income have a
higher level of planned effort toward teaching as a career compared to other groups with added financial
support. This behavior may be associated with sustainable commitment, according to Putra & Masdupi (2019).
This pertains to the level of organizational attachment due to the costs they incur if they quit the organization.
On the other hand, those teachers with other sources of income may demonstrate affective commitment, which
is developed through the encouragement of comfort, security, and other perceived benefits, such as from their
spouses’ salaries and businesses of their own.
The study found that teachers aged 41 years or older had the highest level of persistence, with a
weighted mean score of 4.28. Female teachers had a score of 4.19, while single teachers had the highest score of
4.38. Bachelor's degree teachers had the highest weighted mean average of 4.38, while teachers with no other
source of income scored the highest, with a score of 4.52. The teachers' persistence was further described as
very important. In summary, teachers' persistence was very important to 41-year-old and older female teachers
who were single, had a bachelor's degree, and had no other sources of income.
Wheatley (2002) and Rahida Aini, Rozita, and Zakaria (2018) both agree that teacher age is an
important factor in teacher persistence. Working hard is not the only component of teacher persistence, but it is
necessary. Additionally, older teachers are effective teachers because they are willing to learn new skills and are
eager to increase the quality of learning and teaching. They are more experienced and have been teaching for a
longer period of time, which improves the effectiveness of their teaching method.
Wheatley (2002) noted that the majority of research definitions of teacher persistence do not refer to
the act of teaching itself, but rather to teachers remaining in the profession. Female teachers exhibited a high
level of persistence, as they have been tenured for a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 31 years.
However, when examining the current status, female teachers have not given much attention to their career
advancement. As a result, female teachers pursued teaching as a career with tenacity, as evidenced by their
constant enthusiasm, determination, and willingness to be long-term classroom teachers despite the possibility
of career stagnation.
Watt & Richardson (2007) found that individuals' consideration of tasks as important is subjective in
terms of their personal goals. Single teachers appear to be more persistent than others because they are at a stage
in their careers where they need to establish routines and mastery in teaching. Despite the fact that such
activities require more time and perseverance, single teachers may be able to manage because they are not time-
constrained like teachers who have other family obligations in addition to work. It is assumed that other work
conditions, such as income and outside-of-work goals, were achievable on their level, causing them to focus on
dealing with work-related conditions. As a result, single teachers have a higher level of persistence than others.
Grit and educational attainment were found to be positively correlated in a journal article by Fabelico
and Afalla (2020). This suggests that the higher the educational attainment, the more serious the teacher is about
showing perseverance and enthusiasm in their teaching career. However, teachers who did not apply to graduate
programs throughout their longer years of service but were able to focus on their actual teaching duties and
responsibilities, resulted in high scores on their level of persistence. Their behavior in not obtaining graduate
programs does not necessarily imply that they do not give equal enthusiasm and effort to their teaching career,
but may have different perspectives on it, such as allowing themselves to explore their perceived career path in
classroom teaching and mastering skills that will also sustain them in their years of teaching. As a result, they
have little chances of seeking advance teaching positions since educational advancement is always on line.
According to Ameliawati and Setiyani (2018), the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) shows that a
person's beliefs about something will affect one's behavior. In this case, teachers who focus solely on their own
income appear to be more likely to stay in their teaching jobs because they may regard it as their primary source
of income for day-to-day living and survival. Their financial experiences may have caused them to act and keep
such a level of persistence at work.
Table 2.C Level of Career Advancement of Teachers According to Profile on Professional Development
Variables Highest Weighted Mean Average Average Score Verbal Description
Age 36 To 40 Years of Age 4.13 Very Important
Sex Male 4.04 Very Important
Civil Status Single 4.02 Very Important
Educational Attainment Master’s Degree Unit Earner 4.03 Very Important
The study found that teachers aged between 36 and 40 had the highest level of professional
development, with an average weighted mean score of 4.13. Male teachers had a greater inclination towards
professional development activities, with a score of 4.04. Single teachers received the highest score of 4.02,
while those with earned units toward a master's degree scored the highest at 4.03. Teachers with no other
sources of income received the highest score of 4.05. The teachers' professional development was further
described as very important. In summary, teachers' professional development was very important to male
teachers aged between 36 and 40 who were single, were master's degree unit earners, and had no other sources
of income.
Middle-aged teachers are more interested in professional development than their younger and older
counterparts, as they have the time, money, and opportunities to reach their goals. This may be due to their
already established working conditions and financial resources, making it easier and more efficient to plan for
professional development.
Male teachers outperformed female teachers in this study due to a greater need for pedagogical
competencies and curriculum knowledge. According to Yuner (2022), there are also two barriers to professional
development that may relate to an individual's civil status: being too expensive and not having time due to
family responsibilities. Single teachers were more enthusiastic about professional development due to the
availability of time and resources required to sustain programs. Single teachers are more likely to create a work-
life balance and may have engaged in graduate school programs, attended training and seminars outside of
school, and been involved in new initiatives and publications.
This study demonstrates that teachers' orientation towards professional development is valued, but it
may not always involve advanced education. It may involve activities such as in-service training, learning action
cells, focused-group discussions, or short training programs available in their school or attainable within a short
time frame. Teachers with no other source of income were more enthusiastic about professional development,
but this may not always involve post-graduate study. This group may have chosen to fulfill their professional
development requirements through the organization's initiative, but this may have limited their opportunities.
The study found that teachers aged between 36 and 40 had the highest level of leadership aspirations,
with an average weighted mean score of 2.63. Male teachers had the highest score of 2.77, while single teachers
had the highest score of 2.53. Teachers who earned master's degree units had the highest score of 2.45, while
those with no other source of income had an average weighted mean score of 2.68. The teachers' leadership was
further described as moderately important. In summary, teachers' leadership aspirations were moderately
important to male teachers aged between 36 and 40 who were single, were master's degree unit earners, and had
no other sources of income.
Newton, Riveros, & DaCosta (2014) found that fewer teachers are considering becoming leaders.
Williams & Morey (2018) found that age impacts an individual’s tendency to pursue school administrative
positions, with both younger and older individuals less likely to apply than middle-aged individuals. It was
found that the length of teaching experience appeared to affect career aspirations, as teachers with less than 5
years of experience were more likely to aspire to the role of principal, while those with more than 10 years of
experience were more likely to want to remain in the classroom. This may be true in the case of the participants
in this study, regardless of age, as they have all been in the teaching service for ten years and some are nearing
retirement.
Williams and Morey (2018) found that the majority of female teachers had never applied for a school
leadership position and had no plans to do so in the future. Coleman (2003) found that even though the number
of women in leadership roles may have been increasing, leadership is still associated with men. Women have
different experiences with leadership, such as being aware of stereotypes and sexism. The role of head teacher
appears to have serious implications for women's family lives, but both men's and women's head teachers have
similar self-perceptions of their management and leadership styles. According to statistics, the majority of
school principals are men, implying that more men than women become administrators (Flora, Renovalles,
Janer, and Deri, 2021).
Williams and Morey (2018) found that five factors influenced the refusal to apply for leadership
positions identified by all hierarchical levels, two of which are related to civil status: the perceived disruption to
preferred family circumstances and the perception that leadership does not allow for appropriate work-life
balance. Single teachers considered themselves for possible school leadership positions, but the level of
importance is only marginal.
Recent studies by Deri and Janer (2020) found that many elementary teachers in Sorsogon have not
pursued advanced education, and only a few have engaged in obtaining master’s degree units. Flora, Renovalles,
Janer, and Deri (2021) found that 61% of teachers have master’s degree units, 30.3% still hold their
baccalaureate degree, and only 9.7% are holders of advanced degrees. It was concluded that 90% of the teachers
did not pursue advanced studies, and that time and financial management skills are essential for getting
advanced degrees. Only a small percentage of teachers who aim for a higher position in their careers and are
goal oriented can make schooling possible.
According to Williams and Morey (2018), remuneration and four other factors are identified as
potential willingness factors to apply for school leadership positions. Remuneration is perceived to match the
responsibility of the school leadership position. However, teachers' perspectives about becoming school leaders
are not influenced by their financial circumstances, and there are minimal reasons for them to undertake such an
endeavor. In the Philippines, it may be perceived as an increase in responsibility that is not proportional to the
gain. Additionally, the organization's lack of support, such as providing necessary leadership training, is not
often discussed. This scenario may have discouraged teachers from seeking professional progression due to a
variety of factors, including personal finances. Even in this study, those who have no other sources of income
appeared to place moderate importance on leadership.
Action Plan
The findings of the study highlighted the level of career advancement aspirations among teachers. The
current study acknowledges the need for school-based career intervention programs with a focus on teachers'
planned effort, persistence, professional development, leadership, and financial literacy. On the basis of this
premise, the researcher proposes an action plan to assist public school teachers in achieving their career
advancement aspirations, preventing career stagnation among the teaching workforce through school-based
intervention programs, and subsequently enhancing teachers' well-being.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author would like to express her gratitude to those who assisted her in the completion of this
humble work. She also would like to acknowledge the support extended by the Department of Education for
granting the conduct of the study and to all the public school teachers who responded to survey questionnaires to
aid in the completion of this study.
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Charmaine B. Macapagal 1
Sorsogon State University Graduate School, Sorsogon City, Philippines