POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 11

Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Students are the key assets of universities. The students’ performance

plays an important role in producing best quality graduates who will become great

leaders and manpower for the country thus responsible for the country’s economic

and social development. Academic achievement is one of the major factors

considered by employers in hiring workers especially for the fresh graduates. Thus,

students have to put the greatest effort in their study to obtain good grades and to

prepare themselves for future opportunities in their career at the same time to fulfill

the employer’s demand.

In today’s modern competitive environment, the success of higher education

institutions in acquiring students depends on the capability of an institution to

recognize the needs of the educational market. Institutions should consider ways

to make themselves more competitive in educational markets.

According to Minnesota (2007), the higher education performance is

depending upon the academic performance of graduate students. Durden and Ellis

quoted Staffolani and Bratti, (2002) who observed that “the measurement of

student’s previous educational outcomes are the most important indicators of

student’s future achievement; this refers that the higher the previous appearance,

the better will the student’s academic performance in future endeavors be.
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 2

According to the Thailand Office of Higher Education Commission (OHEC),

in 2013, there were 171 recognized universities in the country that offered

undergraduate programs in a variety of academic disciplines. The growing number

of institutions in the higher education sector has generated competition among

universities, especially in terms of student recruitment. It is crucial for universities

to be able to identify factors that influence students in deciding their university

choice. Previous studies have identified student perceptions regarding studying

abroad, but the current literature does not focus much on why Thai students

choose one local university over another.

Nevertheless, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has identified

problems that run simultaneously with the present tertiary school curriculum in the

country (SEAMEO- INNOTECH, 2003). Among the school- related factors found

are unqualified and poorly trained teachers, inadequate facilities, and dilapidated

instructional materials. Non-school factors include poverty, low educational

attainment and illiteracy of parents and poor health and nutrition (Gato et. al 2014).

At the Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Architecture and

Fine Arts, where the problem has been developed with the question as to have to

corresponding Time management, Study Habits, Financial status, and Learning

Environment which affects the academic performance of an architecture students.

The research aims to provide encouragement and motivation to al students

especially those financially academically distressed to pursue and finish a college

degree in order to become competitive in the future and be able to realize their
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 3

goals and aspirations. It may also provide learning’s, experiences and information

to other architecture students.

Background of the Study

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) is a government, non-

sectarian, non-profit institution of higher learning with two semesters and a

summer. The University employs 1,483 full-time and part-time faculty members

with a few of the former holding administrative positions. There are 707 regular and

casual administrative employees who provide support services to the University

population (pup.edu.ph).

With more than twenty campuses serving more than 70,000 students, PUP is

the largest university in Asia in terms of student population. The main campus is

located in Sta. Mesa, Manila. It has (15) fifteen colleges, and one of which is the

College of Architecture and Fine Arts (pup.edu.ph).

The College of Architecture and Fine Arts offers two Undergraduate Bachelor

Course: Bachelor of Science Architecture (BSARCH) and Bachelor of Interior

Design (BSID).

The researcher has chosen PUP College of Architecture and Fine Arts as

the focus of the study specifically the 1 st to 3rd year because this is the stage were

architecture student is being bombard with a lot of works such as projects, paper
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 4

works and mostly, their plates. This is the stage were those students are being

trained hardly in order to be prepared for the upcoming year where they'll will be

busy compared to those past three years of their study. As of the explanation

earlier 4th year and 5th year students were not included on the research because

they are on they’re on the job training and preparing for their thesis which is the

first requirement for an architecture student to pass and for them to be able to

graduate.

The CAFA's mission is to commit itself to produce competent and

competitive Architects, Interior Designers, and Artists under an atmosphere of

academic and artistic freedom who shall contribute their expertise to sustainable

nation building towards the evolvement of a distinct Filipino architecture and art

forms.

Theoretical Framework

There have been studies that take a gander at the scholarly execution of

understudies in connection to factors, for example, sexual orientation, identity

qualities, accounts, etcetera (Woodley 2003, 1 of 5). Rather than outlining

discoveries of the reviews in view of disengaged factors just, different specialists

have conceptualized these variables as hypotheses. The three interrelated

speculations that contextualize understudy maintenance and variables influencing

the scholastic execution of understudies for this review are those of Spady (1970),

Tinto (1975) and Bean (1980). Tinto's (1975) hypothesis on the scholarly and
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 5

social reconciliation of college understudies frames the premise of this review in

light of the fact that firstly it has established a framework for research on

maintenance of understudies in advanced education; and also its methodological

way to deal with understudy maintenance is wide based, centering on individual

qualities before entering college, the understudies' understanding after entering the

college and the impact of outside variables that meddle with understudies'

scholastic execution.

Spady’s sociological theory

Spady was one of the main analysts to propose a broadly perceived hypothesis on

understudy maintenance in 1970 (Spady 1970, 77). The fundamental suspicion of

this hypothesis is that understudy dropout is best clarified by a procedure including

an association between the singular understudy and the college condition. In this

communication, the understudy's qualities, for example, states of mind, abilities

and interests are presented to impacts, desires what's more, requests of the

college. The consequence of this connection will figure out if the understudy will be

absorbed in the scholarly and social arrangement of the college what's more, along

these lines whether the understudy will be held in the college. Connected to this

procedure are factors that advance the scholastic and social coordination of

understudies in advanced education. These factors are family foundation, scholarly

potential, regulating compatibility, review execution, scholarly improvement and

peer bolster. Every one of these factors are further connected to two different
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 6

factors specifically fulfillment with the college condition and institutional

responsibility (Spady 1970, 77).

Tinto’s integration theory

As indicated by writing concentrates done by writers, for example, Swail (2006, 1

of 4), Draper (2005, 2 of 20) and McCubbin (2003, 20) Tinto's hypothesis of social

and scholastic combination is the most alluded to in the territory of understudy

maintenance. In 1975 Tinto drew upon the work of Spady (1970) who was the first

to apply Durkheim's hypothesis of suicide to understudy maintenance. This

hypothesis depends on the declaration that the probability that an individual will

confer suicide is anticipated by the level of their combination into society (Tinto

1975, 91). While in Durkheim's model of suicide people submit suicide since they

are deficiently coordinated into society, Tinto attests that dropout happens on the

grounds that understudies are deficiently coordinated into various parts of the

college. Tinto additionally fights that dropout could happen through absence of

coordination in either the scholarly or the social frameworks of the college (Tinto

1975, 92). In view of further research, Tinto overhauled the hypothesis in 1987 by

counting the three phases of moving from one group to the next. The primary

stage, partition, alludes to the understudy's separating with one gathering to join

another. Amid the second stage, which is move, understudies manage the worries

of adapting in another, new condition. In the last phase of fuse understudies get to
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 7

be able in being individuals from the new condition (McClanahan 2004, 3; Swail,

Redd and Perna 2003, 46). A further correction of this hypothesis in 1993 included

other factors influencing the social and scholastic combination of understudies in

the college. These factors are conformity, trouble, incongruence, disconnection,

accounts, learning furthermore, outer commitments or duties of the understudies in

the college (Tinto 1993, 45). Tinto additionally overhauled the joining hypothesis in

1997 by concentrating on the classroom encounter. From this point of view, Tinto

attests that the connection procedure that happens in the classroom decides the

social and scholastic mix of understudies (Tinto 1997, 1 of 4). Bennett (2003, 127)

expounds on the two parts of Tinto's model. The main viewpoint, scholastic

combination, incorporates components, for example, scholarly execution of

understudies, scholarly improvement and whether the understudy trusts that

speakers are by and by focused on instructing and helping understudies. Social

mix thusly, incorporates elements, for example, the understudy's self-regard and

the nature of his/her association with kindred understudies and speakers. A further

illustration of Tinto's model by Berge and Huang (2004, 8), McCubbin (2003, 2)

and Seidman (1996, 1of 6) demonstrates that understudies' pre-passage school

properties, for example, family foundation, scholarly capacity, race, sex and earlier

tutoring will decide their scholastic and social mix into the college condition, and in

this way their scholastic execution.

Bean’s psychological theory

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 8

In 1980 Bean (1980, 158) built up the mental hypothesis of understudy

maintenance by declaring that the foundation qualities of understudies must be

taken into thought to comprehend their combination into another college condition.

As per this hypothesis, Bean (1980, 183) additionally battles that the expectations

of understudies to hold on are affected by their states of mind and practices. These

states of mind and practices may influence how much the understudy is happy with

the establishment. The level of fulfillment may build the level of responsibility to the

organization. In 1985, Bean and Metzner built up a hypothesis on nontraditional

understudies. As indicated by Bean and Metzner (1985, 2 of 3), these are more

established, low maintenance and worker understudies. The wearing down of

these understudies is for the most part influenced by the outer condition factors, for

example, family duties, accounts and outside supportive gestures, as opposed to

social reconciliation factors, for example, college enrollments and companions

which tend to influence customary understudies. In 1995, Eaton also, Bean (1995,

617) included adapting conduct as a variable into this hypothesis, expressing that

understudies' capacity to adjust to the college condition mirrors their capacity to

adapt, which is identified with past adapting abilities in different situations.

Summative perspectives on the theories

It shows up from the above data that elements influencing the scholastic execution

of understudies are perplexing and multidimensional. Two normal elements

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 9

showing up in the maintenance speculations examined are the scholastic and

social combination of understudies in the college. Each of the three scholars,

Spady, Tinto and Bean, agree that pre-school traits and qualities, family foundation

and earlier tutoring assume a part in the maintenance of understudies. The other

normal convictions of these scholars are that associate bolster, scholastic

execution, the understudies' level of fulfillment with the establishment what's more,

responsibility of both the understudies and the foundation may assume a part in

maintenance. Spady and Tinto are joined in their view that social abilities, scholarly

and scholarly capacity may influence the maintenance of understudies. Basic

components in the work of Tinto what's more, Bean are identified with the

understudy's school understanding, alteration and the state of mind of the

understudy towards the organization. Tinto's hypothesis in this way shares basic

elements with both Spady's and Bean's though Spady and Bean don't share any

normal includes all alone. Tinto's hypothesis moreover incorporates highlights not

shared with any of the other two hypotheses. These components are the phases of

move from school to the college, fund, trouble of the reviews, the particular needs

of various gatherings of understudies and the understudy's classroom encounter.

Despite the fact that these three speculations appear to give a thorough

comprehension of understudy maintenance, they neglect to completely address

the mindboggling substances of non-conventional understudies. In characterizing

the non-customary understudy, Bean and Metzer (1985) concede that, because of

the heterogeneity of the qualities of non-conventional understudies, it is hard to

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 10

build up a regular profile of these understudies. As per McDaniel and Graham

(2001, 1 of 4) this trouble, and additionally the absence of a general universally

handy maintenance demonstrate, forces organizations to build up their own

particular models.

Conceptual Framework

Based on the study, the factors affecting the academic performance of the

students are multidimensional and complex. There have been studies that look at

the academic performance of the students in relation to variables such as time

management, study habits, environment, financial status.

DEPENDENT
Time Management
INDEPENDENT Study Habit
Travelling Hour Environment
Family Income Financial Status

In the illustration above, the independent variable is Travelling hour and

Family Income. The dependent variable are the factors (Time management, Study

habit, Environment, Financial Status). The arrow between the two boxes

represents the the relationship of the two variables.

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 11

Statement of the Problem

This study was conducted to determine dominant factors affecting the

academic performance of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)

Architecture Students.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of the following:

1.1 Family Income;

1.2 And Travelling hours?

2. What are the levels of the students in terms of the following factors:

2.1 Time management;

2.2 Study habits;

2.3 Financial Status; and

2.4 Learning environment?

3. Are there any significant relationship between the students’ factors affecting

academic performance when they are grouped according to age, travelling

hours, gender, and year level?

Hypothesis

There is a significant relationship between the levels of the students’ English

proficiency levels and their profile.

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 12

Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study focused on the determination of any dominant factors affecting the

academic performance of the PUP Architecture Students.

The respondents of this study were 424 Architecture students: 139 First Year,

162 Second Year, and 123 Third Year. Fourth and Fifth Year students were not

included. Neither were the administration, teaching and nonteaching staff, and

employees.

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will redound to the benefit of students in

addressing the factors affecting the student’s academic performance considering

that the students play an important role in the society today. By knowing this

factors, it may help the students exceed those components that affects their

academic performance. The results of this study would serve as a basis in which

the students can monitor the parts that affects their performance. Such outputs will

also be of significance to the following individuals and / or sectors:

Commission on Higher Education (CHED). This study will help CHED to

strategize programs that will help the students to be more aware upon avoiding

some traits, behavior and attitude that can affect on their academic performance.

PUP Administration. This study can be used by the administration to

evaluate students’ base on their behavior whether, their academic performance is

affected.
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 13

PUP College of Architecture and Fine Arts Faculty Members. This study

will help CAFA Faculty Members to know what are the cause and what will be the

best way to threaten those factors that affects the academic performance of the

students in CEA.

Parents. This will give them a realization and awareness about the factors

that affects their children’s academic performance.

United Architects of the Philippines Students’ Auxiliary (UAPSA). This

study will help UAPSA to check if the architecture community are affected by those

factors that affect academic performance so they they can easily help the faculty to

solve the problem

PUP Architecture Students. The students can use this as their reference or

guide upon having a good time management on balancing their everyday activities.

Future Educational Researchers. They can use this study as a reference in

their studies. They may undertake a similar research to verify the findings of this

study and look for others factors.

Definition of Terms

For the readers to understand this work better, the definitions of terms as the

terms are used in this study are given below.

Atmosphere – A particular environment or surrounding influence.

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 14

Bachelor Course/ Degree – is an undergraduate academic degree awarded

by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to

seven years.

Bombard – Cast, Hurl or throw repeatedly with plates.

Environment – The totality of surrounding conditions.

Travelling Hours - time consumed on travelling.

United Architects of the Philippines Students’ Auxiliary – National

Organization of Architecture students.