TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO TEACHERS IN BAHRAIN: A KEY TO AN INCLUSIVE PRE-DEPARTURE EDUCATION PROGRAM

As the demand for Filipino teachers never waned across the globe, the migrants themselves are facing an overwhelming myriad of challenges in adaptation to a multicultural environment. This study explored the international migration and experiences of the Filipino teachers in Bahrain on their job-related challenges, coping mechanisms, motivations, and satisfactions. Utilizing a descriptive phenomenology of the data obtained through interview, the responses from the members of the Philippine Teachers Association Bahrain endured through thematic analysis, which led to the identification of keys to an inclusive pre-departure orientation program for migrating Filipino teachers. Findings demonstrated an adaptation model exhibiting teachers’ job-related difficulty in adapting to a new working environment and lack of social interaction along with their work commitment and dedication to elevate career opportunities and incentives. This manifested a stronger emphasis on deeper integration of results into an inclusive program, improving multicultural connectivity, and facilitating smoother crossborder deployment in international schools.