Adapting in New Normal Education: Perceive Difficulties and Struggles

of the Junior High School Students in Upper Bicutan, Taguig City

for the School Year 2020-2021

Leader
Emman Jhun Gerodias

Members
John Harold C. Catacutan
Audrey Ross Selah B. Soriano
Justine R. Mirando
Vei Ann S. Borlado
Jessa B. Pagulayan
Kristine Claire S. Taruc
Egielyn B. Cerino
 Introduction

An unknown virus that was originated in wet market in Wuhan, China unknowingly

spreading on citizens causing respiratory illness. It was discovered in early January, 2020 by

scientist naming it “Novel Coronavirus” or “N-CoV.” Coronavirus caused widespread

lockdowns around the globe, closed many establishments, caused poverty and hunger, also

leaving numerous people to be jobless. In addition, this virus changed the way we are living,

from practicing social distancing and wearing face masks and face shield. It also affects the

education system especially here in the Philippines. Students and teachers are using various

strategies to cope up to this pandemic.

The Department of Education (DepEd) proposed online learning, blended-learning, and

modular as one of the alternatives of face-to-face classes. Schools would not be allowed to hold

face-to-face classes unless a vaccine was found. The mode of learning will depend on the

resources available to the student. (The Manila Times, 2020)

This new mode of learning brought some challenges and struggles on both students and

teachers. According to educationdata.org, 16% percent of students experienced internet

connectivity issues that interfered their class participation while 29% of students experienced

occasional disruption, but 56% indicated this happened rarely or never. While 23% of students

experienced hardware/software issues that affected their participation and attendance in their

courses occasionally, with 8% indicating it happened often.

Distance Learning is a new mode of learning and the students yet to fully adjust to his

kind of learning. This had caused to bring numerous problems and challenges to both students,

parents and teachers that they need to overcome in order to adjust in the “New Normal.” In
addition, lockdowns and quarantine measures caused people to become jobless and financially

deficit to support day-to-day expenses, also providing internet connection for Distance Learning

is costly which majority of the Filipino cannot afford.

This case study aims to perceive struggles and difficulties of the Junior High School

students of Upper Bicutan, Taguig City in order to adapt to the new normal. The researchers

chose this topic because majority of the students are not yet to fully adapt to the new normal.
 Background of the Study

The rest of this section presents previous studies on online learning conducted during the

COVID-19 crisis, and also some studies related to online learning challenges and educational

technology in general. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic crisis had already a significant

impact on the world’s economic, psychological and social aspects, especially our educational

sector.

Philippines is also known as archipelagic country which may become a hindrance in our

internet connectivity and coverage, also there are some places that are mountainous and far from

the city. Thus, resulting the learning materials to become harder to access than those living in the

cities.

In this case analysis, the researchers were inspired to make a study about struggles and

difficulties about Distance or Online Learning of Junior High School in Upper Bicutan, Taguig

City for the School Year 2020-2021 which is relevant and timely. The researchers chose Junior

High School students to become respondents of this case study because they are the most

vulnerable to anxiety and depression especially during this pandemic. The researchers ought to

know about how difficulties of Distance Learning affect Junior High School Students in order to

adapt to the “New Normal.” Furthermore, this study will help the students, teachers and parents

to overcome many challenges that was brought by the new mode of learning during this

pandemic. This study also may help future researchers to guide and serve as a reference for their

future research.
 Presentation and Analysis of the Data

This chapter presents the data gathered, the results of the statistical analysis done and the

interpretation of findings whose main objective is to perceive struggles and difficulties of Junior

High School Students in Upper Bicutan, Taguig City sought to answer the following questions:

1. The Demographic Data of the Respondents

1. Age

2. Gender

3. Junior High School Level

4. Devices using for Distance Learning

5. Using Wi-Fi or Data Connection

2. Difficulties and Struggles of Distance Learning 

1. Internet connection instability

2. Place suitability for online learning

3. How students interested in online learning

4. Students’ effort in online learning

5. Difficulty in doing school works

6. Difficulty in focusing on school works

7. Difficulty to use different technologies for Distance Learning

The Demographic Data of the Respondents
Table 1

Age of the Respondents

AGE FREQUENCY/POPULATION PERCENTAGE

13-15 YEARS OLD 24 60%

16-18 YEARS OLD 16 40%

TOTAL 40 100%

Table 1 shows the frequency and distribution of respondents according to age. Based on

the survey conducted, majority of the respondents are 13-15 years old, the frequency is 24 with a

percentage of 60%, and the least is 16-18 years old gather with a frequency of 16 with a

percentage of 40%. As a result, most of our respondents are ranging from 18 to 24 years old.

Table 2

Gender of the Respondents

GENDER FREQUENCY/POPULATION PERCENTAGE

MALE 21 52.5%

FEMALE 19 47.5%

TOTAL 40 100%

Table 2 shows the frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according to

gender. Based on the survey conducted, majority of the respondents are male, a frequency of 21
with a percentage of 52.5% and female respondents comprises a percentage of 47.5% with a

frequency of 19 for a total of 100%. Therefore, most of our respondents are male.

Table 3

Grade Level of Junior High School Respondents

GRADE LEVEL FREQUENCY/POPULATION PERCENTAGE

Grade 7 - -
Grade 8 8 20%
Grade 9 18 45%
Grade 10 14 35%
TOTAL 40 100%

Table 3 shows the frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according to

their Grade Level. Based on the survey conducted, most of the respondents are Grade 9 with a

frequency of 18 and a percentage of 45% and the least Grade 8 with a frequency of 8 and a

percentage of 20%. Therefore, majority of our respondents are Grade 9.

Table 4

Devices Using of the Respondents for Distance Learning

DEVICES FREQUENCY/POPULATION PERCENTAGE

Mobile Phone 33 82.5%
Desktop 5 12.5%

Laptop 2 5%
TOTAL 40 100%
 This table 4 shows the frequency and percentage of the devices using of our respondents

in conducting Distance Learning. The respondents that have a mobile phone has the highest

frequency which is 33 with the percentage of 82.5%. While the Laptop users have the lowest

frequency, which is 2 with the percentage of 5%. To sum it up, most of them are using mobile

phone.

Table 5

Internet Connectivity of the Respondents

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY FREQUENCY/POPULATION PERCENTAGE

Wi-Fi Connection 24 60%

Mobile Data Plan 16 40%

TOTAL 40 100%

Table 4 shows the frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according to

internet connectivity. Based on the survey conducted, most of the respondents are using Wi-Fi

Connection with a frequency of 24 and a percentage of 60%, while mobile data plan has a

frequency of 16 and a percentage of 40%. Therefore, most of the respondents are using Wi-Fi.

Perception of Difficulties and Struggles in Distance Learning of the Junior High School in

Upper Bicutan, Taguig City.

 Table 6

QUESTIONS FREQUENCY WEIGHTED VERBAL

4 3 2 1
MEAN INTERPRETATION

Is your internet connection 8 15 15 2 2.73 Sometimes

stable?
Is your place suitable for 6 13 19 2 2.58 Sometimes

Online Learning?
Are you interested in Online 11 20 4 5 3.05 Often

Learning?
Did you put too much effort in 21 11 4 4 3.23 Often

your Online Learning?

Is it difficult for you to do your 11 13 15 1 2.85 Sometimes

school work?
Is it difficult for you to stay 10 16 10 4 3.05 Often

focused on your school work?

Is it difficult to use different 8 6 19 7 2.38 Sometimes

technologies (e.g. Laptop,

Computer, Tablet, Phone) for

Online Learning?
Does Online Learning save 10 12 12 6 2.65 Sometimes

your time and money?

Does Online Learning give you 7 17 14 2 2.73 Sometimes

problems and anxiety?

 The highest weighted mean is 3.23 which refers to the students who were putting too

much effort on conducting their Distance Learning, this equivalents to “Often” on verbal

interpretation, which is followed by 3.05 that refers to students who are having difficulties to

stay focused on their school works and to the students who are interested in online learning

which equivalents to “Often” on verbal interpretations respectively, 2.85 which the students are

having difficulties in doing their school works with a verbal interpretation of “Sometimes,” 2.73

which students are having problems and anxiety when conducting distance learning and garnered

“Sometimes” in verbal interpretation, 2.65 which students can save time and money in distance

learning and equals to “Sometimes” in verbal interpretation, 2.58 which the students’ places are

suitable in online learning that equivalents to “Sometimes.” The lowest mean is 2.38 which the

students are having difficulties in using technologies when conducting Distance Learning.
Conclusions, Recommendations and Possible Solutions