Beyond the Salary Gap: A Phenomenological Inquiry into the Affective Commitment of Long-Service Teachers in a Private Catholic Institution

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of seasoned teachers with over 10 years of service at Holy Cross College of Calinan Inc., a private Catholic-Riverian institution in Davao City, Philippines. The purpose was to understand the factors sustaining their long-term commitment amid the public-private salary gap and systemic challenges in private education. Guided by a phenomenological narrative inquiry, the research addressed four key questions: reasons for staying, challenges faced, benefits gained, and advice for novice teachers. Data were collected through Google Forms with open-ended questions and semi-structured interviews from 5–10 purposively sampled participants, analyzed via thematic analysis and interpreted through Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory. Key themes emerged: interpersonal connectivity and institutional belongingness as primary motivators, with colleagues described as “family” fostering affective commitment; intrinsic fulfillment from student growth, professional mastery, and alignment with the school’s Catholic-Riverian values; and benefits such as spiritual maturity, curriculum familiarity, and resilience. In contrast, hygiene factors—financial constraints, heavy workloads, accreditation pressures, and student behavior—were identified as sources of dissatisfaction, reflecting systemic challenges in private schooling. Despite these hurdles, teachers remained because motivators outweighed hygiene deficiencies, transforming teaching into a vocation rather than a mere occupation. The study concludes that teacher retention in private Catholic schools is sustained less by material incentives and more by relationships, values, and shared identity that anchor educators in their institutions. While these findings provide valuable insights for cultivating supportive cultures, reducing administrative burdens, and enhancing faith-based support, they are context-specific to one institution and a small participant pool. Future research should expand to diverse private school contexts to test whether similar motivator–hygiene dynamics hold true across sectarian and non-sectarian institutions.