CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Masters degree is a second cycle academic degree granted at

the post graduate level to individuals who have successfully undergone

study demonstrating a high level of expertise in a specific field of study

or area of professional practice. It is said to have originated in

European universities. Students who graduate with a masters degree

should possess advanced knowledge of a specialized body of

theoretical and applied topics, a higher level of skills and techniques

associated with their chosen subject area, and a range of transferable

and professional skills gained through independent and highly focused

learning and research. A masters degree typically takes one to four

years to complete through either part-time or full-time study,

depending on the subject, country, and the type of masters degree

chosen.

Master of Arts in Education (MAED) is one type of masters

degree offered for professional teachers in our country. It helps

licensed educators improve learning environments in their classrooms

and may boost their opportunities for career advancement. This

degree typically offers several areas of specialization, including

elementary or early childhood education, special education, literacy

education, technology and learning, mathematics and pedagogy.

In the Philippines, Master of Arts in Education (MAED) has

become a trend among teachers. For a professional to have an edge,

specifically at work, a masters degree is needed. The National

Teachers College is one of the schools that offers a masters degree in

the field of education. Private and public school teachers were studying

MAED at this institution for various reasons, one of these is for their

promotion. Public school teachers nowadays were getting a masters

degree to further their studies so that it can help them if they want

their careers go up.

Nowadays, teachers are having a hard time balancing their

personal life, career life and their studies. It is difficult for them to

adjust to their new environment, thus, problems and difficulties often

arises. Some MAED students cannot finish one semester, and others,

the whole MAED program.

Primarily, the researchers want to determine the lifestyle

adjustments done by the newly hired public school teachers, the

positive and negative effects of it, and how to address this issue. The

motivation for this thesis comes from the researchers personal

interest in lifestyle adjustments of MAED students.

Significance of the Study

This study will be beneficial to the following:

TEACHERS. This study can be beneficial to the newly hired teachers if

they want to pursue studying MAED. It can help them in addressing

difficulties in adjusting to the new environment they are about to face.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS This research will help educational

institutions to have a deeper understanding to their teachers taking up

masters degree. The data gathered in this study can also serve as

their topic to seminars and teachers induction program.

FUTURE RESEARCHERS This study serves as an informative kit for

the future researchers about the lifestyle adjustments among newly

hired public school teachers taking masters degree in education. This

study also serves as a reference or springboard for other future

researchers in the conduct of other related studies.

Theoretical Framework

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to know the lifestyle adjustments among newly-

hired public school teachers taking masters degree in education at the

National Teachers College.

 Specifically, this study aims to answer the following:

1. What aspect of lifestyle adjustment were seen in the newly hired

public school teachers taking up masters degree in terms of:

1.1 Financial Status

1.2 Socialization

1.3 Quality time with family

1.4 Work Performance

1.5 Romantic Relationships

2. What positive and negative effect were the teachers encountering

with these lifestyle adjustments?

3. How will the teachers address the difficulties they were

encountering?

Hypothesis of the Study

The researchers have the following assumptions:

1. There are lifestyle adjustments among newly hired public school

teachers taking up masters degree

2. Taking up masters degree has positive and/or negative effects on

the lifestyle of newly hired public school teachers

Operational Definition of Terms

Adjustment is a behavioral process of balancing conflicting needs, or

needs against obstacles in the environment

Lifestyle is a way of living of individuals that can denote to interests,

opinions, behaviors, and behavioral orientations of an individual,

group, or culture which they manifest in coping with their physical,

psychological, social and economic environments on a day-to-day

basis.

MAED refers Masters of Arts in Education. A masters degree taken up

by teachers who want to further their studies.

NTC refers to the National Teachers College

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This paper examines the lifestyle adjustments among newly

hired public school teachers taking masters degree in education at the

National Teachers College. This study includes public school teachers

who works within the range of 1 to 5 years only and were studying at

NTC. However, it does not include other educational institutions

offering MAED. The researchers have used have used books, journals,

essays, researches, theses, dissertations, articles, and internet in

gathering data. The NTC Graduate School Library have been visited for

the data needed.

 Specifically, this paper examines the lifestyle adjustments of

newly hired teachers in terms of their financial status, socialization,

quality time with family, work performance and romantic relationships.

Moreover, it study about the positive and negative effects of these

adjustments to the newly hired teachers.

This study is from November 2016 to March 2017