From Readiness to Reality: Exploring Teachers’ Challenges in Implementing the Contextualized Kindergarten Curriculum

This study determined and analyzed the extent of readiness in the implementation of the kindergarten curriculum and the challenges encountered by teachers the in public elementary schools in the Division of Cebu City. It employed the mixed method using quantitative – qualitative technique. The study was conducted in DepEd’s Cebu City Division, wherein the 40 Kindergarten teachers and eight school heads were used as respondents and participants to answer the adapted instrument on contextualizing Kindergarten curriculum. The gathered data were treated using descriptive and inferential statistics as well as thematic analysis. The study reveals that teachers are always ready on the implementation of the Kindergarten curriculum. Also, the study finds that there is a significant relationship between age, educational qualification, and years of teaching experience of teachers in the use of available materials. Also, there is a significant difference on the school environment when grouped by its clustered district. The study concluded that the implementation of the contextualized Kindergarten curriculum based on availability of instructional materials, forms of learning, evaluation method of learners, and school environment were always made available for teachers to use. After the school heads’ answers were transcribed, coded, categorized and analyzed, there were three themes that came out namely: preparation time, development of instructional materials, and the need for teacher training. The implementation of the Kindergarten curriculum has received different feedback from teachers. Their expressed challenges are categorized into: Language Difficulties, Preparation Time, and Instructional Materials Development. The researchers recommend that the proposed action plan be implemented, assessed, and monitored for better implementation of the contextualized Kindergarten curriculum in DepEd’s Cebu City Division.