Struggles of Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG) Officers in Student Leadership: The Advisers’ Perspective

This study explored the struggles and coping mechanisms of Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG) officers in student leadership as perceived by their advisers. Anchored in a phenomenological research design, the research captured the perspectives of SSLG advisers regarding the struggles encountered by student leaders. Nine (9) SSLG advisers from three different group schools participated in the study through in-depth interviews, representing varied school environments. Environmental triangulation was employed to enhance the credibility of the findings, while Thematic Content Analysis was used to analyze the gathered data and identify recurring patterns and themes. The findings revealed that the SSLG officers experience challenges such as difficulty balancing academic responsibilities and leadership duties, time management and scheduling conflicts. Despite these struggles, advisers observed that SSLG officers cope through strategic prioritization and shared responsibility as well as structured time management and prioritization. From the researchers’ analysis of the findings, supported by the collective perspectives of the participants, key insights were generated to strengthen student leadership among SSLG officers. These insights include providing regular leadership training and giving proper guidance and sustained support to SSLG officers. The study highlights the importance of structured leadership development and consistent mentoring in helping student leaders manage their responsibilities effectively. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the support necessary for effective student leadership, improving leadership development initiatives for SSLG officers.