Coping with COVID-19: How Public Secondary School Principals Adapt to the New Normal?

The Department of Education has implemented the Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) in respsonse to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors conducted a qualitative study to understand and conceptualize the coping mechanism made by the public secondary principals in adapting to the new normal. Charles Darwins' Adaptation Theory provided the conceptual theory for this study. The research questions addressed views and experiences of public secondary school principals in the Municipality of Pikit on how they are adapting to the new normal. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to 8 public secondary school principals. Interview results produced major themes relating to secondary school principals' views on (a) how they respond in order to cope with the new normal education, and (b) how they adapt the new normal, and (c) experiences of the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative research study illuminated the potential coping of the new normal among secondary school principals to reduce burnoutand maintain efficacy in a professional manner that will increase and further school success amidst Covid-19 pandemic.