CHAPTER I

Introduction

Rationale

One of the disadvantages of being a student while holding a job is that they are
often short on time and commonly find themselves with limited time to study, sleep,
and maintain healthy eating habits. In a study conducted by Gorgulho, et al., one of
the main complaints among working students is that they find themselves without
enough time to eat right (Gorgulho, et al., 2012). Instead of consuming healthy foods,
such as fruit and whole grains, working students often grab a quick meal comprised of
low quality foods that contain sugar and high sodium (Gorgulho, et al., 2012). This is
not to say that students should feel discouraged and not work while in college, but
instead be mindful of the commitment and plan accordingly. For example, students
who work everyday might benefit from a 7 day food preparation technique at the
beginning of every week.If poor eating habits continue over an extended period of
time, this will increase the risk of obesity and the development of lifestyle related
chronic diseases (Huang, et al., 2003). Huang’s study on obesity, diet, and physical
activity among college students indicates that an estimated 35% of college students
are at risk for being overweight (Huang, et al., 2003). Low levels of physical activity
and poor nutrition are common reasons for this high incidence rate.

Many researchers focus on working after higher education but little research the
effects of working while in higher education. This has had an effect on students.
Mainly, they are looking for jobs while in school to help cushion some of those costs
and everyday expenses. In Moris Triventi’s study, he looked into the effect of working
in higher education. He found that working at low-intensity had positive effects but
higher-intensity jobs, 35 hours or more per week, tended to have negative effects.
Some of the positive effects are increased independence, ability to budget,managing a
schedule, and gaining soft skills, such as communication and problems.
 Some of the negative effects are higher risk of dropping out, delayed graduation
rates, and negative effects on academic performance. He found that full-time workers
tend to have less time for academic studies and school activities. Non-workers average
17.0 hours of studying per week and part-time and full-time workers study 15.7 hours
a week. Full-time workers also attend class less time per week. Part-time workers in
this study were able to deal with the effects of working while in school (Triventi,
2014).

In Rajeev Darolia’s study, there was a correlation between number of credits

completed and number of hours worked per week. This study states that 80 percent of
students work at some point in their undergraduate program and numbers of Work
commitments. Part-time and full-time students tend to spend less time studying
(Darolia, 2014). This can lead to delayed graduation dates and more debt from more
years of schooling. Sleep is one constant that college students lack.

Purpose of the Study

The aim of this study is to contribute to develop knowledge and understanding of

the phenomenon school life quality for working students by taking the perspective of
the students themselves investigating what they perceive as positive or/and negative
about their school life. Further objectives of the study are to investigate how work,
parents and school may influence on their school life. The study is conducted among
working students in Sulop National High School ,Senior High School. From the
findings recommendations are made. In order to secure quality of school life for
working students the teachers need to listen to the voices of their students to
understand and to get knowledge about their conditions. Teachers should be
empowered to develop competence within areas of special needs education,
particularly on assessment which also means including the parents in a closer
cooperation
2

Research Questioner

Following research questions were used to guide the research in answering the main
objectives of the study:

1.What are the types of part time jobs among student?

2.What are the effect of part time jobs on student's academic performance?

3. What are the challenges faced by students when working while studying and
how do they overcome the problems.

Theoretical Lens

Whils the government, higher education authorities and institutions, ,academic,

academic development practitioners, researchers etc. recognize that there is an
increasing number and diversity of students accessing higher education, do the
stakeholders really know who these students are before even thinking of enhancing
their learning and teaching? Certain student retention theories like those of Tinto,
Spady and Bean have described the type of students entering higher education, but
have failed to describe some real attributes and life-worlds of these students.The
purpose of this article is to present a theoretical model describing the ‘circles of
progression’ of a university student in a South African context. This model describes
the progression of a student from pre-entry (school and family background), the initial
entry into university (first few weeks/orientation), entry into university (teaching and
learning environment) and until completion of studies. Although contributions that
report on and seek to theorise on a range of responses to teaching and learning
challenges are needed, contributions and theories on who these students are, and what
are the factors affecting their academic performance are also as important.
 3

Significance of the Study

This study can be a source of information about students who are working while
studying simultaneously. This study is beneficial to students who will be engaging in
work while studying, for them to be aware at the situations and problems they will be
encountering. By knowing this factors of students who prefer to work and study
simultaneously will be responsive and ready for the situation he/she entering. Further
significance is the non working students and faculty members will be able to
understand the situation of the working students and help them to cope with their
studies. This study has significance implications to provide an idea to people on
solving the problems encountered by working students. This study may be a source of
further research regarding the problems of working student. Learning is the aspect of
development that meditation of behavior, skills and knowledge that result from
practice and experience which sought for quality education.

Student’s

Taking on a part-time job while pursuing a degree is hard work, but the benefits
are typically greater than the amount of a paycheck.

Parents

Parents are more concerned about their children's but because of the hard life
they letting their children's worked while studying.

Teacher's

Teacher's are able to watch each student's learning confidence, critical ,thinking
skills and other learning characteristic improve without their interference.

Society
Society is always good way to step out of your comfort zone and increase your
confidence. Increasing your confidence will not only help you meet ore people but it
will also help your career development further down the track.

Scope and Limitation

The study focused on the problems encountered by the working students of Sulop
National High School ,Senior High School.The study also compasses the reason of the
students of Sulop Senior High School to work and study simultaneously,the advantage
and disadvantage of being a working student and their anspiration in life to pursue
working even if it causes problems to them. The main location of the study will be the
Sulop Senior High School and the most target respondents would be the working
students specifically the Senior High student.

Definition of Terms

Curriculum-refers to the lessons and academic content taught in a school or in a

specific course or program.

Curriculum Resources-The resources that schools provide to teachers can also have
a significant affect on curriculum.

Working Student- is a person who has work and at the same time go to school as a
student.

Assessment-is a systematic process of gathering information about what and how a

student has learned.

Achievement Test-. Achievement tests measure the extent to which a student has
profited from instruction and life experiences compared to others of the same age or
grade.
Appeals- are timely, fair and open processes that protect the rights of students and
parents and address differences of opinion about the education of a student.

Consultation-is a process in which parents, school staff and appropriate others share
information relevant to the student’s educational program.

Chapter II

Review of Related Literature

Literature Review of a Working Student’s

Students engaged in part-time and sometime full-time employment while

studying is increasingly a common phenomenon everywhere. Steinberg et al. (1981)
stated over 30 years ago that working while studying provides students with
quite naturally an indication of the requirements that will be needed to function
effectively in one’s later career (Schill, McCartin, & Meyer, 1985). In recent years,
further studies found that students who are working part-time can easily develop
team working, communication, costumer care and practical skills (Lucas & Lammont,
1998; Curtis & Lucas, 2001). Students can directly relate the experiences of
working part-time to enhance and improve their academic knowledge, motivation
and employment prospects (Curtis & Shani, 2002; Curtis & Williams, 2002).
Consequently, a number of researches have concluded that a combination of
financial needs and the opportunity to gain experiences will ultimately enhance
career opportunities in the future (Harvey, 2000; Devlin, James & Grigg, 2008; Nonis
& Hudson, 2006).

According to the research conducted by Watts and Pickering (2000), while

working part-time and studying full-time has a variety of positive outcomes,
respondents generally viewed part-time employment as a necessity to survive in the
contemporary higher education sphere. In Manthei and Gilmore’s (2005) study,
it is said that the money earned from part-time employment was typically spent
on essential living expenses. From the perspective of students themselves,
part-time work is often an introduction to the real world which will assist them
both in personal and career development especially in higher education sector
(Tymon, 2013; Tomlinson, 2007).

Higher education institutions should identify opportunities to increase the

extent to which students could be more familiar with work and expose them to
educational, part-time vocational and career experiences (Yorke, 2004; Glover, Law &
Youngman, 2002).College years are stressful for many students due to many factors
including separation from family, academic work demand, financial concern and
part-time job engagement (Lederman, 2009; Derous & Ryan, 2008; Sorti, 2007;
Carney, McNeish & McColl, 2005).

In particular, many college and university students undertake campus

employment during their school years. Students’ engagement in employment poses a
conflict between academic work and job (Misra & McKean, 2000). Previous research
on students’ campus employment shows contradicting results regarding the effects of
employment on their well-being and health status. Keinan and Tal (2005), Nes,
Segerstorm and Sephton (2005), and Misra and McKean (2000) indicated that a low
level of stress can be positive for some people but it can also be negatively associated
with students’ self-concepts. Thus, it is not whether students work during the school
year that matters but rather the effects of working depends a great deal on the
individual student differences. These authors argued that a certain stress level is
healthy (eustress) for the majority of individuals and this tends to promote a board
range of the positive action and experience for the individuals.

On the other hand, stress becomes detrimental to health only when it is excessive.
Thus, an individual needs a certain level of stress for motivation, creativity and to face
challenges. However, long and continual unresolved stress can lead to physical and
mental exhaustion (Carney et al., 2005; Nes et al., 2005). Several factors are noted to
influence the way we perceive, interpret, and manage stressful events (Rosenbaum,
White & Gervino, 2012; Frazier, Steward, & Mortensen, 2004; Jones & Bright, 2001).
Workers with high perceived control see high-demand jobs as challenges to overcome
rather than threats. Thus, control influences a person’s choice of coping strategies.

People with perceived control tend to employ constructive coping mechanism

while those who perceive a lack of control seek destructive coping mechanism
(Rosenbaum et al, 2012; Frazier et al, 2004; Jones & Bright, 2001). The individuals
who perceive they have high control are likely to interpret the environment as stressful
with lower negative emotional responses, and less strain exhibition (Rosenbaum et al,
2012; Jones & Bright, 2001). However certain events, perceived job stressors, when
they are interpreted as threats can cause negative emotional reactions, mostly in the
form of anger or anxiety (Rosenbaum et al, 2012; Frazier et al, 2004; Jones & Bright,
2001). The resultant negative emotion then leads to strain which are both in behavioral
and in physical conditions associated with the stress.

For an international student, the issue of cultural adjustment and adaptation is a

pressing concern (Poelzl, 2012). The idea of being accepted culturally and socially in
his or her new Journal of International Students 281 2014 http://jistudents.org Volume
4 • Issue 3 community puts the student under the pressure of his host school and
immediate community to adjust to the new culture (Poelzl, 2012; Sorti, 2007). For a
sojourner to successfully live and function well in his host country he is expected to
forgo his acquired culture to learn the new one of his host country. One’s failure or
inability to quickly learn the culture of his host country can result in various
misfortunes and experiences (Poelzl, 2012; Sorti, 2007).