STRUGGLES AND COPING MECHANISMS OF NON-SPED MAJOR DETAILED TEACHERS: BASIS FOR TEACHER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

This research was undertaken to shed light on struggles and coping mechanisms of non-SPED major detailed teachers. A total of 11 informants as total enumeration of the school’s population were selected in a study as basis for crafting a teacher enhancement program. It utilized a descriptive qualitative design through face to face in-depth interviews of the two full SPED teachers, observations for 4 weeks and a focus group discussion to all the nine receiving teachers. This specific method explicate the emic teachers’ coping mechanisms that arise in the normalcy of everyday life. Findings revealed that the learning environment, socio-economic status, instructional practices, assessment & diagnosis and parental engagement were the identified struggles of these teachers while the appropriateness of strategies and their passion are the attributed coping mechanisms. KEYWORDS: Struggles of non-SPED teachers, Coping Mechanisms of non-SPED teachers, Inclusive Education, Program Development for Special Education