Stakeholder's Experiences and Challenges in Supporting Kindergarten Learners in Blended Learning Approach during the Covid–19 Pandemic

Abstract

The problem and the aim of the study The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the global educational landscape. It forces the entire students and educators to stay at home and utilize the distance learning mode. This study described the experiences and challenges of school administrators, kindergarten teachers, and kindergarten parents in supporting the kindergarten learners in a blended learning approach of the identified schools in the Districts of Sindangan and Bacungan Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines during the school year 2020–2021.

Research methods This study used a qualitative research design through phenomenology in gathering, analyzing, and generating the themes from the data collected. There were 30 respondents of this study who were selected through purposive convenience sampling technique.

Results The findings revealed that the stakeholders maintain an optimistic attitude despite their frustrations. They have done utmost dedication and exercised Bayanihan Spirit. However, they also got worried that students may not be acquiring learning at all. Some of the parents personally answer the module instead of just facilitating it for the kids. The parents use positive reinforcement in motivating their sons or daughters to answer the module. The principals, teachers, and parents unanimously acknowledge that blended learning is the most appropriate method while face-to-face classes are still suspended. In terms of challenges encountered, the parents recognize that some are illiterate; they lack the skills and patience in teaching their kids; and lastly, the kindergarten teachers had doubts if the students indeed answered the module's assessment tasks.

Conclusion The stakeholders manifested dedication in supporting the kindergarten learners in blended learning approach during the covid–19 pandemic. Nonetheless, they were adamant as to quality learning was attained due to their personal shortcomings as sub-teachers and the credibility and reliability of the answered modules. Therefore, it is recommended that the parents should undergo training to assist their children in their studies while blended learning is still in place.