Home⇛Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal⇛vol. 17 no. 7 (2024)

Breaking Silence: The Quality of Life, Experiences, and Challenges of Balik Aral Grade 12 Students

Mark Anthony Polinar | Mary Adeline Delos Cientos | Sweet Niere Lou Saldaña | Marife Templado

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

The growth of individuals and society heavily relies on education. Certain hindrances may prompt some students to halt their academic pursuits temporarily. This is known as "Balik-aral." The exploration of the quality of life, lived experiences, and challenges of grade 12 Balik-aral students was undertaken by the authors to break their silence and help them by developing recommendations that could be presented to the school's key stakeholders. A phenomenological approach was used to understand the phenomenon in a study involving five grade 12 balik-aral students from different strands currently enrolled in a public school in Cebu City, Philippines. A structured interview was used to collect data, and significant themes emerged during data analysis using Colaizzi's method. The study revealed several sub-themes, including age disparities and pressure to obtain the diploma while maintaining quality of life. Additionally, key informants emphasized the sense of community and an immersive learning environment in their lived experiences as balik-aral students. Finally, competing priorities and scarcity of resources emerged as significant challenges for those involved in the study. Consequently, the investigation has determined that balik-aral students must be treated equitably to foster their engagement with their peers and enhance their self-assurance, ultimately leading to academic success.



References:

  1. Ahmadi, S., Hassani, M., & Ahmadi, F. (2020). Student- and school-level factors related to school belongingness among high school students. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25, 741 - 752. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2020.1730200.
  2. Asani, S., Panahali, A., Abdi, R., & Gargari, R. (2022). The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy on Academic Emotions and Academic Optimism of Procrastinating Students. Modern Care Journal. https://doi.org/10.5812/modernc-129819.
  3. Arora, N., & Singh, N. (2017). Factors Affecting the Academic Performance of College Students. Journal on Educational Technology, 14, 47. https://doi.org/10.26634/JET.14.1.13586
  4. Attwood, G. & Croll, P. (2006). Truancy in Secondary School Pupils: Prevalence, Trajectories, and Pupil Perspective. Research Papers in Education. 21 (4), 467-484. DOI:10.1080/0 2671520600942446
  5. Bai, N. (2023, August 5). Educational Challenges in the Philippines. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from https://pids.gov.ph/details/news/in-the-news/educational-challenges-in-the-philippines
  6. Baidoo-Anu, D., & Acquah, P. (2021). Social challenges of adolescent secondary school students in Ghana: evidence from Cape Coast schools. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 26, 529 - 540. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2021.2011332.
  7. Battistich, V., Solomon, D., Kim, D., Watson, M., & Schaps, E. (1995). Schools as Communities, Poverty Levels of Student Populations, and Students’ Attitudes, Motives, and Performance: A Multilevel Analysis. American Educational Research Journal, pp. 32, 627–658. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312032003627.
  8. Bijsmans, P., & Schakel, A. (2018). The impact of attendance on first-year study success in problem-based learning. Higher Education, 76, 865-881. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10734-018-0243-4.
  9. Boonk, L., Ritzen, H., Gijselaers, H., & Brand-Gruwel, S. (2021). Stimulating parental involvement in vocational education and training (VET): A case study based on learning histories of teachers, principals, students, and their parents. Teaching and Teacher Education, 100, 103279. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TATE.2021.103279.
  10. Carmo, L., Ferreira, J., Affonso, A., Calças, A., Belintani, P., & Filho, I. (2016). Stress into University Students Impacts the Learning Quality. Journal of Psychology & Psychotherapy, 6, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0487.1000248.
  11. Cervantes, B. (2021). Positive Approach in Parental Communication (PAPC) Strategic Model used for increasing the academic proficiency level of Balik-Aral Senior High School Students in the Philippines. Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied and Basic Subjects. 1 (2), 144-1156. https://visnav.in/ijabs/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2021/12/Positive-Approach-in-Parental-Communication-PAPC-Strategic-Model-used-for-increasing-the-academic-proficiency-level-of-Balik-Aral-Senior-High-School-Students-in-the-Philippines.pdf 
  12. Colaizzi, P.F. (1978). Psychological Research as the Phenomenologist Views It. In: Valle, R.S. and Mark, K., Eds., Existential Phenomenological Alternatives for Psychology, Oxford University Press, New York, 48-71. 
  13. Cummins, M., Jenkins, S., & Haskell, J. (2009). Financial Attitudes and Spending Habits of University Freshmen. Journal of Economics and Economic Education Research, pp. 10, 3. 
  14. Department of Education. (n.d.). Historical Perspective of the Philippine Educational System. https://www.deped.gov.ph/about-deped/history/
  15. Department of Education. (n.d.). The Deped Vision, Mission, Core Values, and Mandate. https://www.deped.gov.ph/about-deped/vision-mission-core-values-and-mandate/
  16. Fentaw, Y., Moges, B., & Ismail, S. (2022). Academic Procrastination Behavior among Public University Students. Education Research International. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1277866.  
  17. Gaedke, G., Covarrubias, B., Simbrunner, V., & Janous, G. (2012). Impact of Stress Factors on Part-Time College Students. International Journal for Cross-Disciplinary Subjects in Education, 3, 692-698. https://doi.org/10.20533/IJCDSE.2042.6364.2012.0098
  18. Hamim, M., & Rahmawati, Y. (2022). The Effect of Self-Regulated Learning Toward Students’ Academic Stress in Malang. Edumaspul: Jurnal Pendidikan. https://doi.org/10.33487/edumaspul.v6i1.2747.
  19. Hashmi, A., & Akhter., M. (2013). Assessing the Parental Involvement in Schooling of Children in Public /Private Schools, and Its Impact on Their Achievement at Elementary Level. Journal of Educational Research, 16, 27.
  20. Hirano, K., & Rowe, D. (2016). A Conceptual Model for Parent Involvement in Secondary Special Education. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 27, 43 - 53. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207315583901.
  21. Indumathy, T., & Annadurai, R. (2022). Study on classroom environment and achievement among rural school students. International journal of health sciences. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6ns1.7870.
  22. Invento, A., Lerias, T., & Ceniza, A. (2017). Sentiment Analysis on the Impact of K-12 Program in the Philippines using Naïve Bayes and Lexicon Approach with Code Switching., 103-106. https://doi.org/10.1145/3176653.3176683.
  23. Jethwani-Keyser, M.M. (2008). “When teachers treat me well, I think I belong”: School belonging and the psychological and academic well being of adolescent girls in urban India”, Unpublished Dissertation, New York University, New York, NY. 
  24. Kasworm, C. E. (1980). The Older Student as an Undergraduate. Adult Education, 31(1), 30-47. https://doi.org/10.1177/074171368003100103
  25. Khan, S., Ahmed, A., & M. (2015). The Best Way to Predict Your Future is to Invent It. Global Journal of Management and Business Research, p. 15. 
  26. Kirillov, A., Tanatova, D., Vinichenko, M., & Makushkin, S. (2015). Theory and Practice of Time-Management in Education. Asian Social Science, 11, 193. https://doi.org/10.5539/ASS.V11N19P193.
  27. Klein, M., Sosu, E., & Dare, S. (2022). School Absenteeism and Academic Achievement: Does the Reason for Absence Matter?. AERA Open, 8. https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584211071115.
  28. Kornguth, M., Frisch, N., Shovein, J., & Williams, R. (1994). Noncognitive Factors That Put Students at Academic Risk in Nursing Programs. Nurse Educator, 19, 24-27. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006223-199409000-00017.
  29. Korpershoek, H., Canrinus, E. T., Fookens-Bruinsma, M., & De Boer, H. (2020). The Relationships between School Belonging and Students’ Motivational, Socio-emotional, Behavioural, and Academic Outcomes in Secondary Education: A Meta-analytic Review. Research Papers in Education. 35 (6), 641-680. https://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2019.1615116
  30. Kretschmann, J., Westphal, A., & Vock, M. (2021). Does it pay to be one of the oldest in class? Relative age effects on academic self-concept, peer relations, and teacher judgments in German primary schools. Learning and Instruction, 74, 101463. 
  31. Lyalyuk, E., Lyalyuk, A., & Polishchuk, A. (2020). Use of time management methods by students for self study at the university., 5, 18-25. https://doi.org/10.31649/2524-1079-2020-5-1-018-025.
  32. Mosyjowski, E., Daly, S., Peters, D., Skerlos, S., & Baker, A. (2017). Engineering PhD Returners and Direct‐Pathway Students: Comparing Expectancy, Value, and Cost. Journal of Engineering Education, 106, 639-676. https://doi.org/10.1002/JEE.20182 .
  33. Oracion, C., Naidu, V. L., Ng, J., & Reyes, V. Advancing the K-12 Reform from the Ground: A Case Study in the Philippines. Asian Development Bank. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/579901/sdwp-66-advancing-k12-reform-philippines.pdf
  34. Pajarillo-Guadamor, M. (2016). The Balik-Aral Program of the Philippine National Police, Cagayan Police Provincial Office. International Journal of Advanced Research in Management and Social Science. Vol. 5 (1). https://garph.co.uk/IJARMSS/Jan2016/24.pdf
  35. Резник, С., Reznik, S., Черниковская, М., & Chernikovskaya, M. (2018). Russian students: life priorities and social sustainability. https://doi.org/10.12737/MONOGRAPHY_5C0A17C3A354F0.90572513.
  36. Peixoto, E., Pallini, A., Vallerand, R., Rahimi, S., & Silva, M. (2021). The role of passion for studies on academic procrastination and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social Psychology of Education, 1 - 17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-021-09636-9.
  37. Peters, D., & Daly, S. (2013). Returning to Graduate School: Expectations of Success, Values of the Degree, and Managing the Costs. Journal of Engineering Education, pp. 102, 244–268. https://doi.org/10.1002/JEE.20012.
  38. Pope, D., & Miles, S. (2022). A caring climate that promotes belonging and engagement. Phi Delta Kappan, 103, 8 - 12. https://doi.org/10.1177/00317217221079972.
  39. Reyes, E. (2013). (Re)defining the Filipino: Notions of Citizenship in the New K+12 Curriculum: Policy Futures in Education, 11, 549–563. https://doi.org/10.2304/PFIE.2013.11.5.549.
  40. Robak, R., Chiffriller, S., & Zappone, M. (2007). College Students' Motivations for Money and Subjective Well-Being. Psychological Reports, 100, 147 - 156. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.100.1.147-156.
  41. Rosaline, M., & Anggraeni, D. (2020). Factors Related to Academic Stress During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Nursing Students of UPN Veteran Jakarta. Proceedings of the International Conference of Health Development. Covid-19 and the Role of Healthcare Workers in the Industrial Era (ICHD 2020). https://doi.org/10.2991/ahsr.k.201125.064.
  42. Saltürk, A. (2021). A Qualitative Analysis on Students’ Perception on The Concept of Academic Achievement and The Barriers. Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. https://doi.org/10.52826/MCBUEFD.881820.
  43. Stepanenko, O., Ohrimenko, Z., Shaforost, Y., Pasichnyk, L., & Pochynok, Y. (2021). Positive learning environment in educational sphere. Eduweb. https://doi.org/10.46502/issn.1856-7576/2022.16.02.2.
  44. Susilo, B. (2022). Difficulty Factors for Fourth Grade Students in Thematic Learning. Jurnal Ilmiah Sekolah Dasar. https://doi.org/10.23887/jisd.v6i1.44608.
  45. Trance, N., & Trance, L. (2019). Embracing the K-12 Curriculum: Accounts of Philippine Teachers and Students. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1254. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1254/1/012031.
  46. Unicef Philippines. (n.d.). Education. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from https://www.unicef.org/philippines/education
  47. Vortherms, S., & Neal, C. (2022). Practicing Effective Time Management. https://doi.org/10.33774/apsa-2022-9h0ht.
  48. Wirihana, L., Welch, A., Williamson, M., Christensen, M., Bakon, S., & Craft, J. (2018). Using Colaizzi’s method of data analysis to explore the experiences of nurse academics teaching on satellite campuses. Nurse Researcher, 25(4), 30–34. https://doi.org/10.7748/nr.2018.e1516
  49. Xin-xi, Y. (2008). ANALYSIS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESSOR AND ITS EFFECT ON RETURNEES FROM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. Modern Preventive Medicine.

Tools


Copyright © 2025  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic