The Notre Dame of Esperanza, Incorporated

Saliao, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat

Senior High School Department
Region XII

“EFFECTS OF HAVING AN OFW PARENT ON

THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF

GRADE 12 STUDENTS OF

NDEI”.

SY: 2017-2018

Submitted by:

MARK BRYAN MACULADA

Researcher

Submitted to:

REV. FR. ELMER I. DELA CRUZ

Research Teacher
 I. INTRODUCTORY PART

A. Introduction

Philippine is one of the countries with most numbers of Overseas Filipino

workers across the globe. It also shows that both parents, the father or the mother
work there to produce high income and sustain the needs of their children
especially in terms of their education. One of the vital roles a parent must consider
is to be serious nowadays in facing the millennial learners. Due also to the fact that
it is not easy to send their children to formal education; it is also difficult to watch
them over and give them proper reinforcement because of the miles of distance
between them.

Parents primarily should be the source of good values, the first teacher,
the provider and the motivator of their children to achieve their goals in life. Their
responsibility to their children cannot be paid with any material things. It is not
enough that parents excelled only as good provider and yet they lack of proper
guidance and counseling to their children.

The usual happenings are that there will be rebellion on the part of their
children, feeling of discomfort, loneliness and abandonment that may result from
various unnecessary conferences such as going into drugs, alcoholism, cutting
classes and exploitation of their own properties. These facts of life are inevitable
because the emotion being felt by the children toward their parents working abroad
are unpredictable and not constantly changing, the same as their views in life.

Thus, this study aims to answer the following questions: 1.) what are the
different strands, genders and age profiles of the respondents. 2.) What are the
feelings of the students having an OFW parent(s)? 3.) Having an OFW parent(s),
are the students motivated to continue or excel in their studies? 4.) Did the students
think that having an OFW parent could have an effect to them in their academic
performance? 5.) Citing at least three negative and positive effects of having an
OFW parent(s) from their own views.
B. Method of the Study

The method used in conducting this study is oral research. This is done
by conducting a research interview to the grade 12 students of NDEI. Thus, the
researcher identified those student who have parents working abroad and were
randomly selected for sampling purpose. Furthermore, it was conducted with
references such as searching a book in the library, browsing from the internet and
other related materials, which can fully help in presenting this study very well.

C. Purpose of the Study

This study will benefit the following persons: To students that they will
understand and be aware that having an OFW parent is not a hindrance in fulfilling
their goals. Instead, they can make it as their motivation. To teachers that they will
determine the problems of their students on why they are losing interest in studying
and becoming lazy to study their lessons and by that, it will enable them to make
strategies in motivating their students. To OFW parents. That whatever the result of
this study, they will be aware of the performance of their children and give them
chance to talk to each other and guide their children even if they are far from them.
Lastly, to the future researcher, that this study will give them background to what
are the effects in the academic performance of a student if he/she has an absentee
parent and this can be their basis in their future study.

D. Scope and Limitation

This study was conducted at the NDEI grade 12 students who have
parents working abroad. The researcher focused only on the effects of having an
OFW parent to the academic performance of the grade 12 students of NDEI.
 II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

a.) Foreign Concept

The *education of the children is the most essential thing that the
parents should provide and support in all term at any means. As Mahatma Gandhi
stated, “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the
world”. It only means that education in children are vital because in them relies the
future of a certain country. Thus, education trains the students how to be skillful
and academically inclined individuals that can be used to provide them somehow
a better future. Nevertheless, how can a student be skillful and academically
inclined if they are emotionally unstable in the sense that they need their parents
to support them not just financially but also morally.

According to Ntitika J.L. (2014) in his study, “The economic status of

parents can also be concluded as to affect the academic performance of some
students. This whereby some of the students who come from families, which are
not economically stable, tend to be chased out of school for fees whereas others
are not able to purchase some of the reading materials. This affects their
performance largely. Moreover, poor economic backgrounds limit the parents from
sending their children to schools that have adequate facilities or of high standards
simply because they are not able to meet the educational cost required.”

According to the study of Antobam S.K., he cited that “Thus more

mothers are leaving behind their children in the rural areas in search for job in the
urban centers so as to be able to cater for their children”

According to Grolier Academic Encyclopedia (Vol.15) “the status of

*parenthood results in certain results in rights and duties existing between parents
and minor children. Modern *statutes in the United States provide both the father
and the mother, are natural guardians of offspring. If it becomes necessary for the
law to appoint alternative guardians, these people are known as guardians by law.
Parents are responsible for the health, financial support, and education of their
children”. It only means that whatever kind of parents you are, biologically or
appointed by law, you are oblige to give the basic needs of your children, mostly
education.
 According to the studies of Arguillas M.J.; Williams L. (2010) “Family
structure, household resources, numbers of siblings competing for those
resources, and parents’ own educational attainment are often important predictors
of children’s education outcomes. Overseas migration of parents from the
Philippines has resulted in increasing numbers of long-term separations of
parents from each other and from their children. Western-based analyses might
predict negative education outcomes for children as a result of parental absence.
We find that separations caused by overseas migration often are either neutral or
can have positive effects on schooling outcomes, at least among older children.
Girls fare better in terms of educational attainment than do boys overall. Boys are
often more affected by background variables, including parents’ international
migration.”

b.) Local Concept

Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs are Filipinos who are employed

in foreign countries. They travel abroad to seek better opportunities in order to
provide for the needs of their families in the Philippines. They are also known as
“Overseas Contract Workers” (OCWs), since they work abroad through a contract
of several years with their employer. The OFW was officially adopted under the
President Fidel V. Ramos Administration to give recognition to the millions of
Filipinos who sacrifice by working in other countries. The change, replacing
‘Contract’ with ‘Filipino’ – honors these Filipino workers by pledging the Philippine
government’s commitment to their *welfare wherever they may be, and removing
the pre-conditioned of possession of contract in order for Philippines *consulates
to come to their aid, under the *Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of
1995 (Republic Act 8042).
(http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/OverseasFilipinoWorkers)

“In Asia, the Philippines is the major supplier of labor migrants to over
100 countries and the leading female migrant sending countries along with
Indonesia. More than 8 million (10%) out of the 85 million Filipinos were working or
living abroad. While over 72% of total migrants from Philippines were women
workers. Many of these women work as domestic helpers, nurses, caregivers, and
entertainers. With this huge number of Filipino migrants (and still more) living the
country temporarily (or permanently), a more pressing concern is with regards to
children left behind. Though there is no systematic data on the number of children
left behind, it is estimated to be 9 million or 27% of the total youth.
The impact of migration varies - ranging from economic benefits not
only for the family but the country in generally through its *remittances to the
security and well being of the family of migrants. But a major concern here is the
social costs of migration specifically to the children left behind. Parental absence
creates “displacement, disruptions and changes in care giving arrangement.” There
is always an emotional aspect that goes along with parents leaving their children,
especially for long periods of time. Nevertheless, it is also a relief to have the
extended family looking after the children left-behind. However, it cannot negate the
fact that the children are longing for the love and care of their biological parents”
said Reyes (2008).
According to the Literature Review of Reyes (2008) “Unlike the
perceived *notions, children of migrants performed well especially during grade
school compared to non migrant children (based on the study of Scalabrini). This
finding also came out in the 1996 study (Battistella and Conaco) and seems to
suggest the importance of mother’s presence in the academic performance of the
children. At the same time, based from the actual interview and observation of
Parreñas (2006) in the conduct of her study, the two boys she met in one school
who were labeled as trouble maker by the guidance counselor have acted with
respect and obedience and have higher cognitive skills. This can also be seen in
Cruz’ study (1987), where students’ performance did not show significant difference
between children of migrants and nonmigrants, majority even received good ratings
in terms of conduct and discipline in class from the teachers (78% children of
migrants and 81% children of non-migrants). Cruz (1987) also noted that children of
migrants interact more with classmates and actively participate in class
discussion/activities and *extra-curricular activities.” Even children are behaving
well, as disciplined one, as it coincide to the study of Parreñas, and Cruz, still it
shows the importance of a migrant parent’s care and guidance as they tend to
performed well, the emotions of migrant children has a possibility to affect them.
According to Parreñas (2000) “Recognizing that the family is an
adaptive unit that responds to external forces, many children make do, even if doing
so requires tremendous sacrifices. They give up intimacy and familiarity with their
parents. Often, they attempt to make up for their migrant parents' hardships by
maintaining close bonds across great distances, even though most of them feel that
such bonds could never possibly draw their distant parent close enough. But their
efforts are frequently sustained by the belief that such emotional sacrifices are not
without meaning-that they are ultimately for the greater good of their families and
their future.” In this study, it shows here the ability of children to understand the
sacrifices of their migrant parent and draw some bonds in order to cope with the
situation caused by great distance.
According to Cleofe (2016) “In our academic years, at some point
of our life, we all have experience pressure from our environment or *peers. We are
forced to follow a certain group just to be accepted. Furthermore, if you are not
aware that negative *peer-pressure (two types of peer-pressure: the negative and
positive) is already changing your values and behaviors of alcoholism, drug
addiction, teenage pregnancy for girls, bullying and school failures.” In this case,
even the children tend to perform well there’s a possibility at a process of trying
times, children could not be able to manage the sense of “abandonment” that may
lead to the “easily-influenced” of peers resulting to the conclusion given by Cleofe
(2016).
“It is emotionally and physically challenging for the children to
accept that their family set-up is not the same with other families. However, as the
child begins to understand the rationale why the parent has to work abroad and is
able to get back on track and take on the responsibility of managing their own. In
addition, In the Philippines, having a *blue-collared job, one would not be able to
financially support their families unlike when they work abroad.” Atienza; Kapunan;
Noe; Panlilio (2012)
At this point, knowing that migrant children’s could probably
be affected emotionally and cognitively by the fact that parents are miles away from
them. Even they are doing well academically or behavioral, the only way to resolve
this is to draw a communication and closer bonds to each, the children and the
OFW parent, in order to prevent an awkwardness that may build through a series of
neglect.
 III. PRESENTATION OF DATA AND ANALYSIS

The graph will show how the students or the respondents, were able to
express their thoughts and feelings of having an OFW parent. This will serve as the
basis in forming the conclusion according to the data gathered.

Table 1: Age Profile of student

Age Respondent Percentage
18 4 28.57
17 10 71.42

The table 1 shows that most of the respondents or students subjected to this
study are 17 years old that constitute 10 persons or 71.42 in percentage form. In
addition, some of them are 18 years old, compose of 4 persons or 28.57 in percentage
form.

Table 1-2: Gender of Respondent

Male Female Percentage
6 8 100

In tables 1-2, it show that most of the respondents are female with 8
participants (Alternatively, 57.14%) while 6 of them are male with 6 participants (or
42.85%). The total respondents that this research was subjected to were 14 persons
only, which has an OFW parent.

Table 1-3: Strand of the Respondent

Strand No. of respondent Percentage

HUMSS 5 35.71
STEM 6 42.85
ABM 3 21.42

In tables 1-3, it show that most of the respondents came from the STEM
strand with 6 participants or 42.85%, followed by the HUMSS strand with 5
 14
16 Longing; 13
12
14
12
10
12
10 Free; 9
8
10
respondents
68
8 Jealous; 7
46 or 35.71%
Sad; 5
24 Proud; 4 and lastly, the
4
0
2 Yes No
Motivated; 2 Happy; 2 ABM with 3
2
0
Yes No respondents
0
or 21.42 in
percentage form.

Table 2: Emotions/Feelings of respondents towards their OFW parent

This table indicates that the most dominant feeling student has is Longing with a
percentage of 31% (or 13), followed by the emotion of being free with a percentage
score of 21% (or 9). Third most dominant feeling of the respondents is being jealous
garnering a percentage score of 17% (or 7), while sad is the fifth emotion that the
respondents rated with a 12% (or 5). Least emotion that were being identified are Proud
with 9% (or 4), the same rank with motivated and happy with a percentage score of 5%
(or 2).

Table 3: Motivation of students in their studies despite of having an OFW parent

This table pointed that the entire respondent agreed that they were motivated to do
better when it comes to their studies despite that their parents are working abroad.
Convincingly, the graph shows that 100% of them agreed by saying yes.

Table 4: Is there any effects to the academic performance of student having an OFW
parent
 The fifth table shows that most of the respondents answered “No” which
garnered a percentage score of 85.71% (or 12). While there were some contradictions,
some of the respondents answered “Yes” with a percentage score of 14.28% (or 2).

Negative Views No. of Percentage Positive Views No. of Percentage

votes votes
Incomplete Family 7 25% Smooth way of 15 53.57%
Living/Financially stable
Missing/ longing 4 14.28% Children will be 5 17.85%
motivated to do their
best in school
Long Distance Family 6 21.42% Parents will be able to 3 10.71%
Relationship send their children to
decent schools.
Uneasy, always anxious 2 7.14% Materially sustained 3 10.71%
Early responsibilities 1 3.57% Mature person 2 7.14%
Children will grasp for 3 10.71%
guidance
Children will become 4 14.28%
attention
seeker/bully/Jealous
Independent/Free 1 3.57%
Table 5: Student views (Negative and positive effect) having an OFW parent

The last graph show that the most views that respondents has in negative side
were incomplete family with 7 or 25% total votes, followed by long distance family
relationship garnered 6 or 21.42%. Next, was missing or longing together with Children
tend to become bullies with a total score of 4 or 14.28%. On the other hand, in positive
side most of students’ view were they to see life to be easy or smooth with total votes of
15 or 53.57%, followed by children are motivated to do well with a score of 5 or 17.85%.
The same average score of 10.71% or 3 that the parents could send their child in
descent schools and materially sustained.

V. SUMMARY OF RESULTS

This study was corresponded by 14 participants, constituted of 8 females

and 6 males. The age range of the respondents are 17 t0 18 years old, of which
majority of them are 17 years old. In addition, most of them came from the STEM strand
followed by HUMMS strand and ABM strand of SHS of the NDEI.

The students were asked about their feelings toward their OFW parents
and there are three dominant feelings occurred namely, Longingness, which gain a
31% total score, freedom with 21%, and Jealousy with 17% average score. This
indicate that students are somewhat emotionally disturbed. As the student was known
to be in that position, all of them were still driven to continue their studies. As the results
show in the table 3, all of them answered yes garnering an average score of 100%.
Thus, having an OFW parent is a difficult situation, yet the students are determined to
do their best when it comes to their academic performance. Convincingly in table 4,
85.71% of them or 12 individuals says that having an OFW parent is not a hindrance to
their study and 14.28% or 2 person said it does.

The respondents was ask to give about the negative and positive outlooks
of having an OFW parent and there are two leading point of views in the negative side,
these are; Incomplete family which gained an average score of 25%, and Long
distance family relationship with an average score of 21.42%. From what the
students give, negative views are indeed exact to what we observed to the family that
have an OFW relative nowadays. Moving to the positive side, the top ideas were;
improved way of living which got a vote of 15 individuals or 53.57%, and children will
be motivated to do their best in school garnered a score of 17.85% or 5 votes from
individuals. Certainly having an OFW parent could bring our life into better point of living
if we just know how to manage and value the things that comes into our life.

V. GENERAL CONCLUSION and RECCOMENDATION

A. Conclusion

This paper investigated the effect of having an OFW parent to the academic
performance of student. The statement of the problem served as the primary guide in
formulating finest result needed. This paper was conducted together with 14
respondents, of which, eight of them are females, most of them are 17 years old and
above. Most of their population came from the STEM strand followed by HUMSS and
ABM of NDEI SHS.
 Therefore, the effects of OFW to the academic performance of students are
manageable at the same time understandable, but it does not mean that student or
children did not undergo into some changes and adjustment. At first, it could be very
difficult to understand being left by parents, most especially to the young ones. They
could be emotional and stubborn but it is a part of process. As time passes by it will be
healed mostly when we come into the right age where our mind set are in mature state.
As an adult, we can easily appreciate and see the value of every things in this world.
One of those are the sacrifices of our OFW parents that is why aside from the fact that
student aim for a better future, their major point in performing well in their study is to pay
the hard works of their parents. In table 3 of the presentation of the data, it shows the
strong views of the students that they are motivated to do their best in their studies
despite of having an OFW parent. Meaning to say they are knowledgeable to what their
parents went. The perseverance of student in fulfilling their desire to finish their study is
measureless, because of the fact that their parents are miles away from them they are
still courageous and unobstructed in doing everything just to make them proud.

It is also understandable that student may be undergo some changes in their

behaviors that can affect their performance in their studies, and as the parents they
have their responsibilities in motivating and counseling their children which I think most
essential thing they must do.

In every situation, we have our different views and student in this certain
situation, specifically having an OFW parent, is a thing we must give time to know. We
have major views in the negative effect of having an OFW parent such as, incomplete
family leading to distant relationship; student could feel free and uncontrollable and may
lead to exploitation of belongings, lack of guidance and become a bully. Lastly, he/she
could be engage in some illegal doings and abusing his/her body. This could be
possibly happen if parents or the guardians will show no care, no discipline and no
communication/interaction to their children. In positive views, they foresee that they can
attain financial support and they can be sent into good schools and they could perform
well in their studies knowing that they will not think of financial problems. Furthermore,
OFW parent has also been given by their company a break to take leisure with their
family. Even it is a short span of time still parents are given the opportunity to catch up
with their growing children.

B. Recommendation
 In this chapter, the following are recommendations given by the researcher to help
the parents, students, and even the teachers, and readers to understand, cope and adjust
to the situation of a person experiencing this kind of situation.

To the Parents, that they may spare quality time with their children and when they
have a break in their work or at least set a schedule in communicating their children via
technological product such as Cellphones and social Medias. Moreover, help them to
understand why they have to go abroad, that they should asked each other of how their
days went. Moreover, parents should asked about certain things about the life of their
children in order to prevent awkwardness between them.

To the Student, that they should understand the selfless act of their parents, ask
their parents if they are doing well in other countries. Always communicate with them and
make them feel that you understand them. That student should do their best in their
academic life to honor the sacrifices of their parents, and value what their parents give to
them including the material things. Furthermore, always initiate a conversation with them.

To the Teachers, that if ever they may encounter such student with an OFW parent
and if they see something unusual behavior of the student help them to realize things that
they should understand, educate them and make them feel that someone care for them and
avoid them from feeling of neglect. Ensure that they will perform well in their academic life
and always secure their attendance in every class session because teachers are the person
who influence the future hope of this country. Help them to be integrally and holistically
develop person with dignity.

To the Readers, that if also you may encounter such person, try to understand them
if ever they do something bad, help them to reach out and motivate them to be a better
person. If needed, be a good epitome to them .

VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Grolier Academic Encyclopedia vol.15. Page 84. Printed and manufactured in the United States
of America (1991). Publish under the title Academic American Encyclopedia.

Cleofe M.P, 2016. Personal Development. Diwa Senior High School Series: Makati City
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Ntika J.L. 2014. Parental characteristic influencing students’ academic performance in public
secondary schools in Isinya district, Kenya. Unversity of Nairobi. Retrieved from
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Antobam S.K. Parental absence and child educational outcomes in rural south Africa: do state
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Arguillas M.J; Williams L. 2010.The Impact of parents’ overseas employment on educational

outcomes of Filipino children. University of the Philippines and Cornell University. Retrieved
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Reyes M. 2008. Migration and Filipino children left behind a literature review. Miriam College –
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Parrenas R. 2000. The Care Crisis in the Philippines: Children and Transnational Families in
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Atienza C.; Kapunan K.; Noe C.; Panlilio R. 2012. The Experiences of Adolescent children
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http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/OverseasFilipinoWorker