Teachers' Resources in Early Childhood Education: Challenges and Strategies

This study investigated the challenges faced by the teachers in early childhood education regarding educational resources and explored potential strategies to address the challenges. This study was conducted with 10 early childhood education teachers from an urban school located in District 1, Zamboanga City. The results indicated that most teachers faced challenges in accessing educational materials due to the limited availability of the educational resources. To address these challenges, teachers often use personal money to provide the materials and collaborate with other organizations and external stakeholders that are willing to support the student education. These stakeholders include parents, the local community, nearby establishments and local government units. In conclusion, teachers’ experienced financial constraints, technological challenges, embarrassment and communication barriers that exacerbate the situation by preventing resource acquisition, partnerships and complicate teaching practices. Positive collaboration experiences highlight the importance of community support, while negotiating parental perceptions and developing effective communication channels emerge as critical strategies. This study recommends that early childhood education curriculum developer should ensure a variety of materials are easily accessible, collaborate with technology specialists, and collaborate with school officials. Future researchers should explore the challenges and strategies in accessing educational materials between the context of private and public schools.