When the Public School Teachers Early Retire: A Multiple Case Study

The purpose of this study was to explore the process when public school teachers early retire. Multiple case holistic design was utilized to determine various factors or considerations that influenced their decision to early retirement and their assessment of life after retirement. The researcher chose five early retired public school teachers from the General Santos City Division, who were below 60 years old upon retirement and had at least 15 years in service of teaching, were picked to undergo the in-depth interview using the approved questionnaire. For triangulation, people who knew the informants were carefully interviewed. Participants were made to sign informed consents with the assurance of anonymity and confidentiality. The data gathered was transcribed, translated and coded to produce themes. The study revealed meaningful themes like work environment, professional relationships, financial resources, health status, work satisfaction, selfreflection, and support groups. As to their assessment of life after retirement, the themes generated were having new opportunities, new experiences, and new realizations. The findings implied that we have nothing to do with the teachers’ personal decision; it was their own rights although the government could have offered something that would make the teachers not to retire early and embark on ways that would encourage them to teach or stay until their retirement.