PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY SHS WORKING STUDENTS ON THEIR

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

A Qualitative Research Paper

Presented to the
Faculty of the Senior High School
Biliran National Agricultural High School
Biliran, Biliran

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the

PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1

BY:

CHRISTEL CORPIN
LOREN GARILLO
MEVIL BANTILAN
MARK ANGELO BASAGAN
GIAN REY BALONAN
JAMES SARSOSA
JERICHO ANCAO
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

While the advantages faced by working students are well documented,

existing literature often overlooks the nuanced experiences and coping mechanisms

employed by these individuals. This qualitative study seeks to address this certain

gap by exploring the lived experiences of working students, with a focus on how they

navigate the demands of work, study, and personal life.

By adapting a qualitative approach, this study aims to capture the rich and

diverse narratives of working students, allowing for a deeper understanding of the

complexities involved. Through in-depth interview and systematic analysis, we hope

to shed light on the strategies employed by working students to balance their various

responsibilities, the impact of work-study conflict on academic performance and well-

being, and the role of social support in initiating stress and enhancing resilience.

The findings of this study are expected to have implications for both policy

and practice, informing the development of targeted interventions and support

services to better meet the needs of this vulnerable population. Ultimately, by

amplifying the voices of working students, this research seeks to contribute to a

more inclusive and supportive higher education environment for all.

In recent years, the phenomenon of students balancing part-time or full-time

work alongside their academic pursuits has become increasingly prevalent. This

trend reflects

The economic realities faced by many students who seek to finance their education

and cover living expenses. While working during high school can provide valuable
skills and financial support, it also presents a unique set of challenges that can

impact students’ well-being and academic success.

This qualitative research aims to explore the experiences of working student,

focusing on their motivations, challenges, and strategies for managing their dual

roles as employees and students. By gaining a deeper understanding of the lived

experience of these students, this study seeks to identify ways in which universities,

employers, and policymakers can better support this population.

The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the existing body of

knowledge on student employment and inform the development of more effective

support programs and policies for working students, Ultimately, this research seek to

promote the academic success and well- being of student who navigate the complex

demands of the work and study.

According to the findings of the study conducted by William (2014), the

reasons why students work is due to budgetary need, meet a quick or basic

necessity, and to help the understudies in their future objectives. This was supported

by the study of Furr and Elling (2002), where the reason why the students work part-

time is due to financial problem. Aside from these reasons, there were also

consequences of working while studying and that is according to the findings of the

study of Darolia (2014), where understudies take fewer attributes in school because

of work duties. As a result, the students’ lead to lower grades.

The purpose of this study is to investigate and navigate the difficulties faced

by Senior High School working students within our school, to know what influences

their choice of employment, and to examine students’ perception of their magnificent

ability to balance work and study. This will also delve on to what are the negative and
positive factors that affects them, obstacles they might face throughout their journey.

Working students also face challenges in their academic performance, attendance,

and stress levels, which can impact their overall success and well-being.

Statement of the Problem:

This study will determine the Problems encountered by SHS working students

on their Academic Performance.

Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:

1.What are the common difficulties experienced by working students in managing

their work and academic responsibilities?

2.How does being a working student affect their studies?

3.What are the strategies done to effectively balance their work with their academic

responsibilities?

Theoretical framework of the study

This study is anchored on several theories. One of these theories is

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs it states that the needs of a person are physiology,

safety, belongingness, esteem and self-actualization. Another theory this study

anchored on is the human capital by Gary S. Becker (1962) which focuses about

the importance of investments on education, health care and training investment in

education, medical care and training courses are investment that can benefit and

raise earnings, improve health and good habits of people for a lifetime.

According to the Human Capital Theory by Gary S. Becker, investments in

education, health care, and training are crucial for individuals to improve their skills

and knowledge. Their theory emphasizes the importance of acquiring Human Capital
through these investments, as it can lead to higher earnings and better overall well-

being. For working students, this theory suggests that by investing in their education,

health care and training they can enhance their chances of securing better job

opportunities and higher earnings in the future.

The Supply and Demand sides were compared in economic theory (Alfonsi

et al.,2017). The former discussed why workers should learn skills that will help them

get their jobs. Meanwhile, the latter discussed what prevents rms from hiring these

employees. It is pertinent to these working students’ circumstances because being

employed related to the course will undoubtedly bennet them in the future. On the

job, young people learned skills they would not have learned in school, which may

have contributed to developing their hard and soft skills. As a result, the students

could apply the skills they had learned while working in a classroom setting.

Significance of the Study

Working student are students who are working while they are still going to

school. These students are working to help their selves and their parents due to

financial problem. This study can generally be the basis in the academe in relation to

being a working student, as a means of learning specifically, this would be useful to

number of people specifically in the academe.

Students - This will make them know the reason why some students can’t focus on

their studies.

Teachers - This study will make the teachers become aware of why their students

are working.

Parents - This study will make the parents become more aware of how hard it is to

be a working student.
Researchers - This study will enhance research skills and would further serve as a

motivation to conduct more studies.

Future researchers - They can make use of the results or an input to their respective

further studies.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study will focus on the problem that a working student encounter on their

studies while working at the Biliran national agricultural high school. How they

manage their time on their work and studies, how can they accept the fact that they

are working to support their studies, what are the problems that they are facing. Also,

at explore the performance of the working student in their academe. This study will

focus on the Senior High School Grade 11 Humss students of Biliran National

Agricultural High School.

Review of Related Literature (RRL)

Several studies have found that working students achieve lower grades and

experience more stress. However, there are also some advantages to working during

the semester such as learning time management and developing a strong work

ethic.

According to a theory of the allocation of time (Becker,1965) The Zero-sum

theory suggest that student employment and education are substitutes. It is argued

that that student employment strongly constrains students use of time: time spent

working crowds out of time spent on activities than enhance academic performance

(e.g. studying, doing homework, and attending classes;)This means that being a

working student can affect your academic performance for the reason that students

can’t focus on their studies since student employment strongly constrains student
use of time. While (kalenkoski and Pabilonia (2009;2012 et al.), find that time spent

working does not reduce the time spent on school-related activities in a one-to-one

relationship. Working students also scale down the time spent on non-school related

activities (e.g. time spent with families or friends and time spent watching television

or in front of a computer). In this case, the zero-sum theory is not (or is less) valid.

According to Desjardin and Toutkoushin who they found conducted this study

on the year 2005, the findings suggested that moderate levels of student

employment could have positive effects on academic achievement and future

earnings, while high levels of employment could negatively impact academic

outcomes. Their study examined the relationship between student employment and

academic achievement. The study analyzed data from the National Longitudinal

Study of the High School class of 1972 (NCS-72) and the National Education

Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS-88) to investigate how student employment during

High School and college influenced various outcomes, including educational

attainment, earnings, and job satisfaction.

According to (Fjortoft, 1995; Hailikari et al., 2021) Many studies found that the

longer hours students devote to employment, the less they involve in either

academic or social activity. This theory states that many students are giving much

more time to their work than to their studies seeing that if they don’t work, they can’t

support their studies. However, little did they know that being more focus on their

work can make their academic performance lower than they normally have when

they still focusing on their study. As (David X. Cheng & Lucia Alcantara 2007) theory,

working student suggests that students who work while attending school are

constantly searching for meaningful work and meaning in their work. It is important

for institution to recognize work as an educationally purposeful activity outside the

classroom and to create job opportunities that benefit students academically, socially,

and financially. Working students may experience more anxiety and stress compared

to non-working students, but there is no significance difference in depression levels.

Working students also tend to have higher levels of academic engagement. The

decision to work during senior high school is often driven by financial need. Working

students may face challenges in balancing their roles as students, workers, and

individuals with other commitments. Overall, this theory emphasizes the importance

of understanding the unique experiences and needs of students who work while

pursuing education.

Maelah et al. (2016) conducted a study to explore the relationship between

part-time work and employability skills among university students. They likely

examined how part-time work experiences, such as internships or jobs, influenced

the development of skills that are valuable in the workplace, such as communication,

teamwork, and problem-solving skills. The study may have also looked at how these

skills contribute to students employability after graduation.

It was stated in Kim and Lee’s (2015) study that focused on investigating how

part-time work relates to the psychological well-being of college students. This

involve looking at factors such stress levels, satisfaction with life, and overall mental

health in relation to the amount or type of part-time work students engage in.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a federal agency that collects,

analyzes, and disseminates essential economic information to help businesses,

policymakers, and the public make informed decisions. Some by functions of the

BLS include the labor market information that collects data on employment, wages,

working conditions, and labor force participation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI)
which measures changes in the prices paid by consumers for goods and services,

the Producer Price Index (PPI) that measures changes in the selling prices received

by domestic producers for their goods and services; the Employment Projections that

produces long-term projections of employment by industry and occupation, the Labor

Force Statistics which provides data on the labor force, and lastly the Occupational

Safety and Health Statistics that collects data on workplace injuries, illness, and

fatalities to help improve workplace safety and health.

Salmela-Ara et al. (2009) conducted a study to explore how working students

balance their work, academic, and personal lives. They investigate the work-study

interface and its implication for well-being and academic success. The researchers

likely looked at various factors, such as the number of hours worked, the nature of

work, the impact on academic performance, at the overall well-being of the students.

Their findings may have shed light in the challenges faced by working students and

suggested strategies for achieving a balance between work, academic, and personal

life.

Another theory that reinforces a negative correlation between student work

and educational success is the primary orientation theory (Van Casteren, Hon

Bouck, 2007, Warren, 2002 et al.), often mentioned in the field of sociology. This

theory suggests that the lower academic performance of working students is related

to their primary orientation being towards work instead of school. In light of working

of the different theories investigating the working while studying phenomenon, the

result of the major hypothesis reflecting a negative effect of working students on their

academic performance are aligned with the theory of allocation of time. This theory

means that the reason why almost of the working students are slowly getting a lower
academic performance because they are working to support their self or to help their

parents financially.

Karavana (2013), discovered that there was increase in the number of

working students, can be attributed to a desire to minimize loans and debts. Student

felt the need to limit their borrowing and therefore earn more of the tuition. Another

benefit allies in the felling of self-achievement and self-satisfaction that is achieve

through challenging oneself with double the workload and two different lifestyles. It is

all about pushing oneself to the limit and proving to the world that one can manage

their time in the best possible way make the most of it by working and studying the

same time. It also believes that such an attitude reflects the abilities of hard work and

determination in people, which are qualities that every firm generally looks for

whether it is about financial consideration or future employability prospects.

Alli (2010), stressed that the combination of working and studying together is

the key to success and is the foundation on which one’s future and career depends.

The evidence suggests that the effect of working while in college vary by the type of

job held: full time versus part time, and on campus versus of campus. Harmful

effects typically arise because hours spent at work take time away from studying

which may lead to lower grades less attractive post college opportunities. Working

may contribute to students dropping out of college or taking a little bit more time to

graduate. But students’ employment can also be a positive experience. For example,

some workers may gain experience from their job that helps them in the classroom

or in the labor market environment after college. On campus jobs may also build

connection to academic department or the community at large, which in turn may

make students more likely to stay in school.

 Lederman (2009), stated that working while studying could have positive

effect on one thing and negative effects on other thing. Employed students are more

confident and have better time management skills than ordinary students. In

addition, working gives independence, training and experience to the students.

Studies that they more responsible to others, however, another study reported that

devoting to employment and performing good grades at the students engage in

employment, they less achievement of good academic performance.

Ohurdhaugeh (2015) understand that there are many possibilities factor why

student living a school before having graduate the most commonly cited is being

engage to work while studying. It finds that employment status does not have an

impact on drop out of student who work full time alongside studying full-time are less

likely to complete their programme than student working short part-time or not

working to all.

According to Wattsand Pickering (2000), working while studying has many

positive out comes to persist in the modern higher education realm. In addition to the

above studies, some researchers also focus on the time use by working student. As

a consequence, the more time a student spends on working, the less time he/she

engages in academic studies (Greene & Maggs, 2015;2017). Mathews (2018)

describe that students’ experiences of time constrains are normally related to the

working time poor.

(Yorke, 2004; Glover, Law & Youngman, 2002) According to the commission

on higher education (CHED), around 216,000 students in the country are currently

misrepresenting school and work and this figure is about 8% of the total number of

college student in the country. CHED said that working student today are mostly into
food service, entertainment and sale, apart from their usual stints as librarians and

research assistant. “One of the reasons why students need an extra income is due to

financial crisis. Filipino students are still able to support themselves financially

through working although they have financial problems. According to The Working

Student (2016), to set down the job options of Filipino working students namely

online jobs, paid corporate internship, fast-food crew, and school jobs. Filipino

students are struggling because they have to meet the standards in their work so

that they will not lose their job and maintain academic performance so that they will

not get a failing grade. Around 216,000 understudies in the Philippines are right now

juggling school and work, the most recent information from the Commission on

Higher Education (CHED).

Definition of terms

The following terms in this study were defined operationally to understand the

concepts clearly.

Academic Performance - The measurement of student achievement across various

academic subjects, teachers and education officials typically measure achievement

using classroom performance graduation rates, and results from standard lied tests.

Encountered Problem - This refers to the working student who face various

challenges in balancing their work and studies.

Working Student - Individuals who combine their studies whit employment, they are

student who work either parttime or full-time while pursuing their education, These

student face various challenges.

 CHAPTER 2

METHODOLOGY

This chapter introduces the methods that will be use in this study. it covers the

research design, research locale, research participants, research instruments, data

gathering procedure, data analysis, ethical consideration, and researcher’s

reflexivity.

Data Gathering Procedure

In collecting the data, the researchers will secured a consent letter to the

Schools Division Superintendent seeking permission to conduct the study. Upon its

approval, the researchers will forward the said letter to the principal of the identified

school for their permission to conduct an interview to the participants of the study.

Moreover, the researchers will inform the participants that the interview will be audio-

recorded for the purpose of transcription.

Research Instrument

To gather relevant, significant and in-depth, this study will utilize schedule

interview with identified participants of the study. The interview guide is a product of

the researchers in-depth readings of literature from various citations. Follow up or

prompting questions will be prepare to know the Problems Encountered by the SHS

Students of Biliran National Agricultural High School on their Academic performance.

After finalizing the interview questions, the researchers will personally conduct

an in-depth interview, where video-recording is utilize to get the full and detailed

views of the participants. The interaction is also audio-recorded in case the first

instrument experience a mechanical/electrical trouble.

Research Participants

In this study, the participants will be the Senior High School students in Biliran

National Agricultural High School.

In choosing the participants, we, the researchers utilize purposive sampling.

Where the researchers include all the working students who encountered problems

on their academic performance in Biliran National Agricultural High School, School

year 2023-2024. The researchers yield 30 participants to be include in this study.

Researcher’s Reflexivity

The interviewer will focus on staying neutral when the information is

exchange so that her presence could not affect the perceptions of the participants. A

few minutes will be spent for the introduction and in reaching the common ground to

be dealt with during the interview. In this regard, the researchers will explain the

purpose of the interview and asked if they have any questions and concerns to

establish a proper relationship between the researchers and the participant. The

questions will then be addressed in a natural and unforce manner regarding the
interview schedule to ensure topic coverage completeness. The researchers also

sees to it that she will not be affected by the participants’ emotions in answering

some questions.

Ethical Considerations

For ethical purposes, the researchers will ask permission from the research

participants before the conduct of the interview for their approval. The researchers

will ensure that the participants rights, are respected. And if they feel that their rights

are violated, they can stop responding at any point. To ensure that "do-no-harm" has

been observed throughout the study, the researchers will write a letter of consent to

the participants, explaining their intention to carry out the research and ask them for

their time to respond voluntarily to semi-structure interviews.