Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter presents the related literature after the thorough and in-depth search

done by the researcher.

Local Literature

A research study by (Dalugdog et al., 2019) states that in this period of

globalization and high-tech revolution, education is considered as a first step for every

human activity. However, working is now a fundamental responsibility for many

undergraduates. It plays a vital role in the development of human capital and is linked

with an individual’s well-being and opportunities for better living.

Over the years, the concept of “work-study balance” has been an ongoing struggle

for working students. While there can be several factors involved, financial crisis is the

primary reason why students take part-time jobs or full-time jobs. (Nucum, 2018).

It is typical nowadays for students to work while studying to pursue their dreams

in life. Expenses for college education` are never cheaper as generation passes by. Some

families can afford tuition fees; however, most of the families cannot afford to send their

children to pursue a college degree. Hence, one of the best ways to earn a degree and to

fulfill dreams is to work while studying. Some of the working students are employed in

the fast-food chain as service crew. Some, especially those with capital, invest in small
businesses. Some serve as student assistants in colleges and universities, and this is a

common strategy. (Villahermosa et al., 2015).

Being a working student is a desperate response to this hunger for an attainable

education. Majority of the Filipinos from middle-class down to those on the poverty line

have once struggled juggling a job and their academic responsibilities. All these, just to

be able to fend for themselves and their studies. In most cases, they work to feed their

families too. (Jenna, 2020).

Working while studying is having part-time jobs while studying to have extra

income. It has a big impact on the academic performance of students. This condition has

possible positive and negative effects. The most common effect was poor participation in

class activities. However, they could relate work skills to some school activities.

Likewise, the students learn to balance time for work and study. Lastly, the most

common factor that affects them was the family and how that serves as motivation to

work and study hard. Also, academic achievement could be effective in getting high

grades as payback for hard work. (Acaso et al., 2019).

Combining academic studies with paid work also has negative consequences.

According to researchers, employed students have problems with balancing the workload

they take on and obligations related to their studies. Employment of full-time students

hinders their academic achievement and limits the time for studying. They are less likely

to study successfully at university because their work takes too much time and energy.

Secondary jobs have a negative effect on the quality of teaching, especially those students

who work over hours, 18 or more than 15 hours in a week. (Verulava, 2022).
 Working students are those students who render services outside their schoolwork

and activities. For varied reasons, students want to help their parents in earning money to

meet the needs of their family. These may include their everyday food, bills, clothing,

and cash for schooling. Others wanted to work for amusements, personal saving and for

experience purposes. Students who engage in a job have carried both their duties and

responsibilities as students and workers to maintain school and company. (Barrameda,

2019).

A working student is a person who works and goes to school as a student at the

same time. Being a working student requires considerable effort not only in his work but

also in his studies. Being a working student is extremely hard because they need to give

100% of their attention when they are in school and give 100% of their strength when

they work. A working student should know how to spend his or her time equally between

study and work, plan everything, and plan strategies. (Coral et al., 2020).

The reality of high school students who are already working is an open secret in

the Philippines. It exists but is not often talked about. Its existence is known as some

school’s report of having child laborers who are at high risks of dropping-out. It is a

secret because high school working students seem not receptive to the idea of sharing

their experiences with others, maybe due to embarrassment. Their parents seem

apprehensive that laws on child labor may be used against them once people become

aware of what their children are doing. (Race et al., 2020).

Working, at the same time studying, has some positive and negative effects on

their personal needs, self-esteem, and time management. Even though they encountered
some difficulties, they seem to manage both studying and working simultaneously.

Despite all the challenges of being a working student they perceived it positively that

being a working student is making a “best version of yourself” that will aid them in the

wider battle of life. It taught them how to juggle the multitude of involvement,

schoolwork, and social events that they choose to attend. Likewise, they learned to be

flexible and pushed to organize their life. (Cui and Ermac, 2017).

Foreign Literature

Being a working student is stressful most likely in balancing your social life, time

for family, school, and work. Figuring out how to manage the pressure that pursues with

being a working undergrad, and ensuring you have no less than one night off a week, can

bring down your stress levels ten times. (Mitchell, 2016).

One of the primary reasons students work while studying is to help pay for their

college fees and other needs. On the other hand, financial aid does not sufficiently cover

all college expenses. Consequently, the more time a student spends on working, the less

time he or she engages in academic studies. Even though the college expenses are high,

some students are pursuing their degree to improve living through education. (Matheuws,

2018).

Eight out of ten college students work while they’re enrolled in school. The more

hours they work, the greater the impact on their academic performance. Financial stress

in college students has the biggest impact on those who are working 20 hours or more
each week. Many of these students are forced to reduce their class load or shift to part-

time enrollment, which further raises costs and financial stress. (Zwart, 2018).

The more energy and time spent at work, students would withdraw from studying,

which results in lower grades and scores, and are more likely to fail and are less suitable

to enter post-secondary education. On the other hand, those working students who work

more scattered or lacking hours undergo adverse consequences in the workplace. (Muluk,

2017).

Soria et al., (2020) found out that working students were more likely than non-

working students to have financial difficulties because of the pandemic, including lost

pay from family members, lost pay from on- or off-campus employment, and higher

living and technology costs. Working students are roughly twice as likely as ordinary

students to be anxious about financing for their education. They also take fewer academic

units because they must balance work and school.

Hatchet (2021) stated that students working during the pandemic had to reconcile

schoolwork and jobs. Some working students reported that their jobs have increased their

stress and obligations because of the pandemic, forcing them to adapt to new “chaotic”

surroundings with additional safety protocols. They said the extra obligations have

motivated them to request assignment extensions from their lecturers to complete their

education around their work shifts. Students who work in critical vocations say the

pandemic has put their ability to balance schoolwork and their careers to the test.

Working while learning takes a greater toll on low-income students. There are

about six million working learners who are also low-income, these working learners are
more likely than their higher-income peers to work more than 15 hours per week, leaving

less time for their studies. And rather than pursuing a professional position, many devote

more hours each week to dead-end jobs. Working longer hours at these jobs may allow

low-income students to earn more money in the short term. But it’s usually never enough

to cover their college and living expenses. (Carnevale, 2019).

Tumin et al., (2020) mentioned that working while studying as financial support

and self-improvement revealed several challenges related to time constraints, pressures,

and engagement to their studies. Despite the challenges, working students considered

these to develop and acquire the necessary skills for better future employment. In

addition, the concept of working while studying is meaningful enough to be perceived

that one can earn to support their necessities, such as school fees, family budgets, and the

like while pursuing higher education.

For students who choose to work while studying, there are various reasons that

lead them to undertake this commitment, such as financial issues, experiences,

networking, and many other reasons. Over time, students need more and more financial

support to cover their expenses for living and studying since the price of all keeps

increasing. Based on findings from the survey in the 2008 National Survey of Student

Engagement, working while studying can provide positive impacts on students’

engagement with schoolwork. Some significant benefits that work provides to college

students are relatable working experience, time management skills, freedom from debt,

and better academic performance. (Caldwell, 2017).

possess better time-management skills than students who are not employed. In addition to

offering a paycheck, some independence and satisfaction, a part-time job can provide

both training and experience. Working teaches students about responsibility and can also

reinforce what they are learning in school.