Experiences of Neophyte School Heads in Managing Schools in the Hinterlands: A Phenomenology

This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach and aimed to describe and understand the experiences of neophyte school heads in managing schools in the hinterlands of Langilan district under the Department of Education, Division of Davao del Norte. Newly appointed school heads are still considered learners in the field of school management, even with their prior education and extensive training for the role. Ten participants were recruited using purposive sampling and underwent a virtual, in-depth interview. At this stage of research, the experiences of the neophyte school heads are generally defined as the experiences, coping mechanisms, and insights of the newly designated school head in the research locale. As to the participants’ experiences, four themes emerged, namely: encountering difficulties in traveling to school; having insufficient financial resources; lacking school supplies and facilities; and dealing with cultural differences. With regards to their response to coping mechanisms, four themes appeared: seeking help from colleagues and superiors; collaborating with stakeholders; being open-minded and consultative; and familiarizing DepEd Policies. Lastly, their insights revealed five themes: wider scope of responsibility; desire to learn; passion to help the community as reason to stay; necessity of providing trainings; and provision of human and other resources. The study reveals that neophyte school heads have different difficulties and hardships in managing schools. It concluded that in Langilan district, help from colleagues, superiors, and collaboration with stakeholders is very significant to the participants, and it speaks to the fact that neophyte school heads need training and assistance from the Department of Education implementers that could help them perform as school leaders.