ANTECEDENTS OF READING DISABILITIES AMONG GRADE 3 PUPILS

IN THE SELECTED SCHOOLS OF VITALI DISTRICT:

BASIS FOR READING CATCH-UP PLAN

A Research Proposal
Presented to the Faculty of Graduate of
Zamboanga State Polytechnic College

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

the degree of Masters of Arts
In Education major in Education Administration

By

MARRY GLADIES A. FERNANDO

________________________

Date
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

In order to function in today’s society one must know how to read. Reading is a habit where

students learn, gain knowledge and develop new skills (Olivar, 2014). Understanding the

significance of reading and in line with the implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program,

the Department of Education (DepEd) implemented “Every Child A Reader Program” (ECARP)

through DepEd Memorandum No.402s.2004 and Administrative Order No. 324. This aims to teach

public elementary pupils with planned training in reading and writing to make them independent

young readers and writers. In order to make pupils equipped with reading skills, an assessment is

done to know the reading status of the child. One of the tools being used in knowing the reading

ability of the child is through the use of tool Philippine Informal Reading Inventory (Phil-IRI). The

Phil-IRI used as a classroom-based assessment tool aims to measure and describe the learners’

reading performance in both English and Filipino languages in oral reading, silent reading and

listening comprehension. These three types of assessment aim to determine the learner’s

independent, instructional and frustration levels. The Phil-IRI data shall also serve as one of the

bases in planning, designing/redesigning the reading instruction of the teachers and the school’s

reading programs or activities to improve the overall school’s reading performance. Pupil under

the frustration reading level tends to withdraw himself to read by refusing it. In the instructional

reading level, the pupil can only read when being guided while in the Independent reading level,

the pupil can read alone with ease without the guidance of the teacher. The data from these

measures could also be used to design or adjust classroom, small group or individualized

instruction to fit the student’s needs and abilities.

 There are many DepEd Reading Programs that are continuously being improved for the

enhancement of the reading level of the pupils and yet reality speaks of the truth that there are

still reading difficulties being faced in this present days. In connection to this, this study is being

conducted to help give basis for the reading catch-up plan that would tell what causes these

reading difficulties among pupils.

One of these antecedents is the Nutritional status of the pupil. According to the latest

studies presented by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), results echo a World

Health Organization report that over 30 percent of children in the country are malnourished.

Malnutrition remains as one of the biggest problems that constrain school-age children from

attending or performing well in school. Thus this results to poor reading performance as well.

The distance from home to school is also part of the study. “The lengthy footing of kids to

school disorganizes their concentration in class. Some of them arrive at school sweaty, stressed

and exhausted both physically and psychologically, which compromise their performance, says

Charles Mutazihana.

Parental involvement is also thought to be one of the possible causes of reading disabilities

too. The amount of parental involvement has an influence to pupils schooling. It was said that

parenting is important in the Philippine society because family is viewed as the center to one’s

social world. But, social contexts in which Filipino families are embedded have changed rapidly

over the past ten years (Ochoa & Torre, n.d.) Children’s learning is increasingly moving toward a

broader vision of the 21st century learning.

Another part of which to study is the membership of students in 4P’s. A study revealed the

significant effect of the program to the performance of the student beneficiaries especially in

motivating them in attending classes. The study then attempts to also find out if students’

membership to 4 P’s contribute to their reading level.

 Given the effort of teachers to eradicate non-readers and improving literacy, a lot of

problems, questions, concerns and issues arise and have come up with this study. One of the

Problems is in line with improving pupils’ classroom performance. Hence this study specifically

sought to find out the antecedents of reading disabilities.

Statement of the Problem

It aims to determine the antecedents of reading disabilities among the Grade 3 pupils in the

selected Schools of Vitali District. It specifically sought to answer the following:

1.) What is the Reading level of the selected Grade 3 pupils in the selected schools of

Vitali District?

2.) To what extent do the following factors contribute to reading level of the pupils in the

Frustration level?

a. Nutritional Status

b. Parent’s Involvement in School

c. Self-Esteem

d. Membership to 4P’s

e. Distance from home to school

3.) What intervention measures can be implemented to address the reading disabilities

among Grade 3 pupils?

Significance of the Study

The result of this study will be of great benefit to the following:

DepEd Officials. The results will provide the DepEd officials knowledge on what

contributes to the reading performance of the pupils since this will serve as basis for the reading

catch-up plan. Hence, the result of this study may serve as a mind-opener that would help them
think of future actions specifically ideas about the future programs or projects to be implemented

regarding school matters that may help boost the performance of the pupils and especially the

over-all reading performance.

Teachers. The given results of this study will give the teachers knowledge on what would

help them solve problems about reading disabilities in the classroom, what contributes to the

performance of the pupils and give them the importance of literacy specifically of reading in the

classroom.

Parents. Like the teachers, the parents too will understand the importance of helping their

child read. The given findings will help them realize what future actions to be done to help their

children in school.

Pupils. The results will provide the pupils knowledge on what will help them achieve best

classroom

performance in school. It will help them realize the importance of reading habits.

Future Researchers. The given data may eventually help the future researchers in doing

their study that is in connection with the said title.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study is focused on the antecedents of reading disabilities among Grade 3 pupils in

the selected Schools of Vitali District. This study is mainly focused on Grade 3 pupils who undergo

Phil-IRI Assessment school year 2019-2020 in the selected Schools of Vitali District, Zamboanga

City, namely: Vitali Central School, Tagpangi Elementary School, Limaong Elementary School;

Bincul Elementary School, Tindalo Elementary School and; Talaga Elementary School.
https://www.literacyworldwide.org/blog/literacy-daily/2015/08/06/literacy-in-the-philippines-the-

stories-behind-the-numbers