Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VIII
Division of Leyte
Leyte National High School
Tacloban City, Leyte
Philippines

PERCEPTIONS OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL WORKING STUDENTS

ON THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THEIR

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

De la Cruz, Diane F.

In partial fulfilment to the course

INQUIRY, INVESTIGATION AND IMMERSION

June 2021
 ACKOWLEDGEMENT

The researcher would like to express her sincere gratitude to all persons who
helped in making this research study a success. Her earnest appreciation is
especially given to:
Mr. Ferdinand Negros, her Inquiry, Investigation, and Immersion teacher for
his expertise, his efforts, and for the opportunity to make this research study.
Grade 12 – Adams students of Humanities and Social Sciences Strand for
their strong presence of friendship and companionship.
Her loving and ever supportive family, for their valuable and continuous
faith, moral, financial and spiritual support which helped a lot in completion of this
study;
The Almighty Father, above all, for His divine wisdom and consent that
made this endeavor possible.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE . . . . . . . i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . . . . . . . ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . . . . . iii

LIST OF TABLE . . . . . . . v

ABSTRACT . . . . . . . vi

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study . . . . . . . 1

Objectives of the Study . . . . . . . 2

General Objective . . . . . . . 2

Specific Objective . . . . . . . 2

Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . 2

Significance of the Study . . . . . . . 3

Definition of Terms . . . . . . . 4

Scope and Delimitation . . . . . . . 4

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Review of Related Literature . . . . . . 5

Review of Related Studies . . . . . . . 7

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY

Research Design . . . . . . . 9

Data Gathering Procedure . . . . . . . 10

CHAPTER IV: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND

INTERPRETATION

Table 1. Descriptive Analysis of Students Part-Time Jobs Data. . . 11

Table 2. Working Students Perception on their Part-Time Job . . 13
Table 3. Working Students Perception on Learning Modalities . . 14
Table 3.1 Working Students Satisfaction of their
Academic Performance . . . . . . . 15
Table 4. Impacts of COVID-19 on the Part-Time Job
and Academic Performance of the Working Students . . . 16

CHAPTER V: SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND

RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary . . . . . . . 17

Findings . . . . . . . 18

Conclusion . . . . . . . 19

Recommendations . . . . . . . 19

BIBLIOGRPAHY

A. Article Sources . . . . . . . 20

B. Electronic Sources . . . . . . . 21

Transcriptions
 LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Descriptive Analysis of Students Part-Time Jobs Data

Table 2. Working Students Perception on their Part-Time Job
Table 3. Working Students Perception on Learning Modalities
Table 3.1 Working Students Satisfaction of their Academic Performance
Table 4. Impacts of COVID-19 on the Part-Time Job and Academic Performance
of the Working Students
 ABSTRACT
Working while studying is not an easy task, especially for full-time students
who work for more hours a week. This can be a tough situation which needs
balancing of time between studies and work. May it be freelancing, housekeeping,
networking, or simply file organizing, these still assumes extra responsibilities.
Working while studying full-time clearly requires a lot of effort. Putting so much
of one’s mental and physical energy into this uneasy arrangement usually leaves a
feeling of fatigue, stress, or both. Students who work while studying are those who
usually belong to families with low average income, where survival is a must.

Using a qualitative method, this study explored the struggles and/or lived
experiences of senior high school working students during the outbreak of COVID-
19, and their perceptions on its impact on their academic performance. The study
utilized the Case Study research that describes a person, thing, or any creature on
earth for the purpose of explaining that reason behind the nature of its existence.
The study utilized purposive sampling since the study aimed to determine the
perceptions of senior high school working students on the impact of COVID-19 on
their academic performance. The study utilized questionnaires which were
composed of eight (8) questions. With the social distancing policy, the distribution
of questionnaires was done virtually.

The COVID-19 pandemic has major impacts on the academic performance

and part-time jobs of the senior high school working students. These included
anxiety and unproductivity towards their academic performance and part-time jobs.
Perceptions of the senior high school working students included disappointing
unsatisfactory academic performance. The senior high school students perceived
new learning modalities challenging and time-management demanding. Working
students perceived their part-time jobs as risky and challenging.
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study

Working while studying is not an easy task, especially for full-time students
who work for more hours a week. This can be a tough situation which needs
balancing of time between studies and work. May it be freelancing, housekeeping,
networking, or simply file organizing, these still assumes extra responsibilities.

Working while studying full-time clearly requires a lot of effort. Putting so

much of one’s mental and physical energy into this uneasy arrangement usually
leaves a feeling of fatigue, stress, or both. Students who work while studying are
those who usually belong to families with low average income, where survival is a
must.

With the current pandemic, it is without a doubt that the education sector is
one of the most affected. Specifically, the pandemic has posed unequal
opportunities for learning and students with the school closures. According to the
UNESCO Monitoring Report, approximately 192 countries had implemented
nationwide closures, affecting about 99% of the world’s student population. With
different, alternative learning modalities such as online classes, modular, or
blended, it is speculated that student academic performances will be less likely of
those in the face-face classes. On the other hand, remote learning is demanding.
Remote learning challenges may lead to procrastination and technical issues
(Montgomery College, 2020), cheating and poor communication skills (E-
Student.org, 2020) which potentially poses a poor academic performance. Thus,
this study seeks to explore the perceptions of senior high school working students
on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to their academic performance.

1
Objectives of the Study

General Objective

This study aimed to determine the perceptions of senior high school working
students on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their academic performance.

Specific Objectives

This study specially aimed to:

1. Determine other struggles and/or lived experiences of senior high school

working students during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Statement of the Problem

Working while studying full-time clearly requires a lot of effort. Putting so

much of one’s mental and physical energy into this uneasy arrangement usually
leaves a feeling of fatigue, stress, or both. Thus, this study attempted to determine
the perceptions of the senior high school working students on the impacts of
COVID-19 pandemic on their academic performance.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What are the perceptions of the senior high school working students on
the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on their academic performance?

2. What are the other struggles and/or lived experiences of the senior high
school working students during the COVID-19 outbreak?

2
Significance of the Study

The results of this study are believed to be beneficial in one way or another
to the following:

Schools. This study can best benefit them for they work as stewards towards
upbringing education. In addition, the findings of the study can give insights to the
school officials to help and educate students with part-time jobs to be more
productive in both of their academic performance and their part-time job.

Senior High School Working Students. This study serves as an acquisition of

knowledge. The results of this study will help students with part-time jobs become
more aware and attentive to their academic performance.

Department of Education. The results of this study provides new knowledge for
the department in augmenting their campaign of new learning modalities. It gives
valuable information in enriching the national agency and the department towards
sustainable education.

Future Researchers. The findings of this study provides new information for the
future researchers who may be interested to do research studies related to part-time
job and academic performance.

3
Definition of Terms

To avoid confusion of the terms used in the study, the following terms are
defined conceptually:

Part-time jobs – refers to any paid work that requires only a specific schedule of
time.

Perceptions – refers to the thoughts or views of the respondents regarding the

issue being tackled in the study.

Impacts – refers to the issues or major influences that affects the study’s
respondents.

Academic Performance – refers to the activities that determines the respondents’

performance in school.

Scope and Delimitation

The study focused on determining the perceptions of the senior high school
working students on the impacts on COVID-19 pandemic on their academic
performance. It also sought to determine other struggles and/or lived experiences
of senior high school working students during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The study utilized purposive sampling since the study only included senior
high school students with part-time jobs.

4
 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter discusses varied literatures and studies contained in

publications, journals, and articles that provide a substantial background for the
problems considered in this study. The idea acquired through these reading
materials have thought insights in this conceptualizations.

Related Literature

Students face an increasingly uncertain environment, where financial and

health shocks (lack of resources to complete their studies or fear of becoming
sick), along with the transition to online learning may have affected their academic
performance, current labor participation, educational plans, and expectations about
future employment.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, youth labor force

participation rate improved in July 2020 at 38.9 percent compared to 38.8 in July
2019, and 32.4 percent in April 2020. There were about 7.8 million Filipino youth
who were either employed (6.0 million) or unemployed (1.7 million) as of July
2020. In April 2020, about 6.5 million youth were in labor force, of which 4.4
million were employed and 2.0 million were unemployed.

A report from ABS-CBN citing data from Commission on Higher Education

or CHED, states that about 216, 000 students in the country are currently juggling
school and work. CHED also stated that only 50% of working students gets to
finish school, as many cannot cope and cannot concentrate on their studies, while

5
some have poor health, while others give up because of insufficient funds. As
CHED advised working students to get jobs that are more closely related to their
courses, CHED also advised them to get jobs that are not that demanding to ensure
their safety and health amidst the pandemic.

Another editorial from the Journal of Occupational Health entitled ‘Health

of University Students Under Job and Financial Insecurity During the COVID-19
Pandemic’ states that an online nonanonymous survey of living conditions
conducted at the University of Tokyo identified that 34.4% out of 2530 responses
were students who were financially insecure. The report also provided context
analysis of free texts entries, and extracted the following five broad response
categories: income, job search, financial support, continuing studies, and health.
These were impressive and indicated the urgent need to identify those vulnerable
students as well as the countermeasures. They found that students with economic
insecurity were more likely to have poor self-rated health compared to those who
were financially stable.

Another article by Andria Pragholapati entitled ‘COVID-19 Impacts on

Students’ states that student’s mental health is greatly affected when faced with a
public health emergency. They need attention, assistance, and support from the
community, family, and tertiary institutions. It is recommended that the
government and schools should collaborate to solve this problem in order to
provide crisis-oriented psychological services that are of high quality and timely
bad character to students.

As Tsurugano et. al. concluded, the sudden economic security brought

about by the global COVID-19 chaos would have long-lasting consequences and
regrettable loss of young generation unless sufficient public support is provided as
it is likely to be having a devastating effect on their studies and health.

6
Related Studies

In the published study conducted by Tsurugano et. al. entitled ‘Impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on working students: Results from the Labour Force Survey
and the student lifestyle survey’. The results showed that the number of working
students reported in the Labour Force Survey has declined sharply since March
2020, falling by 780,000 (46%) in April. The number of working students was 2.14
million in January 2020. This number decreased after March, reaching 920,000
(450,000 men and 470,000 women) in April 2020, when the declaration of a state
of emergency was announced nationwide. Although the number were increasing in
May, it remained 610,000 (32.7%) lower than in the same month in 2019. An
analysis according to age group revealed significant reductions in the numbers of
young working students aged 15-19 and 20-14 years old in April 2020, down
340,000 (-49%) and 400,000 (-45%), respectively, compared to the same month in
2019.

Another findings from the survey of university living conditions, of the same
study, reported that of the 1,804 participants in the study, 741 (41.1%) were
engaged in part-time work at the time of the survey. Of the 1,063 students who
were not working, 605 (56.9%) wanted to work after reopening of the university.
In terms of health status, a significantly greater percentage of the economic
insecurity group reported poor self-rated health and increased anxiety and worry,
compared to those without economic insecurity.

Moreover, a similar study conducted by Aucejo et. al. entitled ‘The Impacts
of COVID-19 on Student Experiences and Expectations: Evidence From a Survey’
concluded that due to COVID-19, 13% of students have delayed graduation, 40%
lost a job, internship, or a job offer, and 29% expect to earn less at age 35.

7
These effects have been highly heterogeneous. One quarter of students have
increased their study time by more than 4 hours per week due to COVID-19, while
another quarter of working students decreased their study time by more than 5
hours per week. This heterogeneity often followed existing socioeconomic divides;
lower income students are 55% more likely to have delayed graduation because of
COVID-19 than their higher-income peers.

Aucejo et. al. also emphasized that the COVID-19 outbreak had large
negative effects on student’s current labor market participation and expectations
about post-college outcomes. Working students suffered a 31% decrease in their
wages and a 37% drop in weekly hours worked, on average. 40% of students lost a
job, internship and/or job offer. The pandemic also had a substantial impact on
students’ expectations about their labor market prospects post-college. For
example, their perceived probability of finding a job decreased by almost 20% and
their expected earnings when 35 years old (around 15 years from the outbreak)
declined approximately 2.5%. This finding suggest that students expect the
pandemic to have long-lasting impact on their labor market prospects.

The study’s results suggests that by focusing on addressing the economic

and health burden imposed by COVID-19, as measured by a relatively narrow set
of mitigating factors, policy makers may be able to prevent COVID-19 from
widening existing achievement gaps in education.

8
 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the discussion of the research design and data
gathering procedure.

Research Design

Using a qualitative method, this study explored the struggles and/or lived
experiences of senior high school working students during the outbreak of COVID-
19, and their perceptions on its impact on their academic performance.

The study utilized the Case Study research that describes a person, thing, or
any creature on Earth for the purpose of explaining that reason behind the nature of
its existence. It aims to determine why such creature, may it be a person,
organization, thing or event, acts, behaves, occurs, or exists in a particular manner
(Baraceros, 2016). In addition, case study centers on an individual or single subject
matter. This type of research design involves a long-time study, since it seeks to
find answers to why such things occurs to a subject. Finding the reason behind
such occurrence drives the researcher to also delve into relationship of people
related to the case under study.

9
Data Gathering Procedure

The study utilized purposive sampling since the study aimed to determine
the perceptions of senior high school working students on the impact of COVID-19
on their academic performance.

Purposive sampling, also known as selective sampling is a sampling

technique used to recruit respondents or participants who can provide in-depth and
detailed information about the case under study (Statistic Solutions, 2016). The
research respondents were composed of ten (10) senior high school students with
part-time jobs.

The study utilized questionnaires which were composed of eight (8)

questions. With the social distancing policy, the distribution of questionnaires was
done virtually, through Messenger chats and Gmail. In addition, all respondents
were given enough time to answer the questionnaire.

10
 CHAPTER IV
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

In this chapter, the results of the data gathered are presented, analyzed, and
interpreted with the use of thematic analysis.

Table 1. Descriptive Analysis of Students Part-Time Jobs Data (Question 1.)

CODE CATEGORY THEME

“Online Shop. (1/1)”

“Selling branded tops online (2/1)”

“Part-time entrepreneur/online selling. (3/1)”

“I am an Avon dealer, and I sometimes do

ONLINE online selling. (4/1)”

“Nago’online sell ako. . . (6/1) Part-time jobs

are online
“Online selling. (8/1) selling, summer
job and
“Online Selling. (9/1) managing, and
food services.
“Salon Manager. (7/1)”
SUMMER JOB
AND MANAGING
“…nagsu-summer job ha City Hall. (6/1)

“I work at a food catering services. (7/1)”

FOOD SERVICE “I help as a meat vendor in a meat store.

(10/1)”

11
 As stated, the respondents have part-time jobs. Some of these working
students are doing online selling, some work as salon manager and has a summer
job, and the other work in food services:

“Part-time entrepreneur/online selling. (3/1)”

“Salon Manager. (7/1)”
“I work at a food catering services. (7/1)”

12
 CODE CATEGORY THEME

“…all items I receive, I sanitize them first…which

is somewhat new and challenging to me. (4/2,3)”
“…challenging…syempre bangin ka matapnan…
CHALLENGI
naninibago kay yana may mga sul’ot na nga mga
NG
mask (6/2,4)”
“It is a bit risky and challenging because I have Part-time jobs
potential exposure to people. (10/2)” are perceived as
“…just need to earn money… rather than buying challenging,
my own wants. (2/2) while others
“I use the income I earn…to have weekly load. primarily use
(4/2)” their income for
“I spend my job income for my needs in my practical uses.
INCOME
modular learning. (7/2)”

“…income ko dagdag para gastuson. (8/3)”

“I used my job income for the finances in our

house. (9/3, 4)”
Table 2. Working Students Perception on their Part-Time Job (Question 2.)

As stated, the working students perceived part-time jobs as challenging

because of changes brought by the COVID-19, while others are left with no choice
but to use their income for practical uses such as modular learning and household
finances.

“It is a bit risky and challenging because I have potential exposure to people.
(10/2)”
“I used my job income for the finances in our house. (9/3, 4)”
Table 3. Working Students Perception on Learning Modalities (Questions 3 & 4)
CODE CATEGORY THEME
“Blended learning. It’s hard…I can feel
boredom four our subjects, especially that we
really need to study on our own. (1/3,6)
“Modular…it is so hard to deal with my
module…(2/3)”
“…blended learning. It’s quite hard
sometimes…I cannot perform well because of
limited resources. (3/4,6)”
“Blended learning. It’s kinda hard for me since The learning

we don’t have a stable internet modalities are

LEARNING
connection….I’m being unproductive… hard for the
MODALITY
(4/3,4)” working
students.
“Online learning, yes it is hard…(5/5)”

“Modular…I can’t manage my time easily.

(7/3)”
“Modular learning, it is really hard…I can’t
even balance my time… (9/5,6)
“Blended learning. It is sometimes hard… I
can’t monitor my performance that much.
(10/3,5)”

Just like any other students, the alternative learning modalities imposed
because of the pandemic are hard for the working students. Some stated struggles

13
such as: studying on their own, time management, limited resources, lack of stable
internet connection, and the inability to monitor one’s performance.

14
Table 3.1 Working Students Satisfaction of their Academic Performance (Question 5.)

CODE CATEGORY THEME

“No…I can make better…(1/8)”

“No. (2/7)”

“To be honest, I’m not satisfied. (3/8)”

“No. (4/6)” The working

ACADEMIC
students are not
PERFORAMANC
“No. (5/7)” satisfied with
E
their academic
SATISFACTION “Sometimes not… (6/11)”
performance.
“No. (8/7)”
“…my grades sometime does not meet
my expectations… (9/8)”
“Honestly, no. (10/6)”

As shown, working students are not satisfied with their academic

performance with the new learning modalities, imposed because of the pandemic.
Some stated that they believe they can still do better, while another respondent
stated that her grades sometimes does not meet her expectations.

15
 Table 4. Impacts of COVID-19 on Part-Time Jobs and Academic Performance of
the Working Students (Question 6.)
CODE CATEGORY THEME
“It affects both my part-time job and studies by
having limitations…(3/9)”

“Ha part-time job naninibago la po ak pero ha

AFFECT studies ko duro apekto haak…(6/12)” The COVID-
19 has
“It affected my part-time job and studies…it is
effects,
hard to make sudden actions due to the fear of
being infected. (9/10,11)”
implication,
and has
“…it makes my personality weak, it made me affected both
not really productive… (1/9,10)”
UNPRODUCTI part-time jobs
VE “The pandemic made me anxious and and the
unproductive about both my part-time job and academic
my studies. (10/7)” performance
“…I have to choose to do my part-time job just of the
to sustain my load and be able to submit my working
modules and attend classes online. (4/7,8)” students.
CLASS “…my working schedule gets mixed up with
my class schedules…I have to be extra careful
outside. (10/7,8)”

As stated, The COVID-19 has affected both part time jobs and academic
performances of working students. Effects of the pandemic shows that working
students became more aware and conscious of the ‘limitations’ present during the
pandemic. Implication also shows that there are working students who became
anxious and unproductive about their part-time jobs and studies compared before.
Moreover, others have stated that they have to be extra careful and choose to do
their part-time jobs.

“It affected my part-time jor0066b and studies…it is hard to make sudden actions due to
the fear of being infected. (9/10,11)”
“The pandemic made me anxious and unproductive about both my part-time job and my
studies. (10/7)”
“…I have to choose to do my part-time job just to sustain my load and be able to submit
my modules and attend classes online. (4/7, 8)”

16
 CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION

This chapter presents the summary, findings, conclusions, and

recommendations preferred.

Summary
This study entitled “Perceptions of Senior High School Working Students on
the Impact of COVID-19 on their Academic Performance aimed to determine the
perceptions of senior high school working students on the impact of COVID-19 on
their academic performance and other struggles and/or lived experiences of the
working students during the COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically this study sought to
answer the following questions:

1. What are the perceptions of the senior high school working students on
the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on their academic performance?

2. What are the other struggles and/or lived experiences of the senior high
school working students during the COVID-19 outbreak?

17
Findings

The following are the significant findings of the study:

1. The COVID-19 pandemic has major impacts on the academic performance of

the senior high school working students. The senior high school working students
perceived these impacts as implications and effects that has greatly affected their
academic performance.

2. Perceptions of the senior high school working students included unsatisfactory

academic performance. Some respondents explicitly said that they were not
satisfied with their current academic performance. Other states that they believe
they can still do better, while another respondent stated that her grades sometimes
does not meet her expectations.
3. One of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is the alternative learning
modalities. The senior high school students perceives new learning modalities as a
challenge as it is hard for them. Some stated struggles such as: independent
learning, time management, limited resources, lack of stable internet connection,
and the inability to monitor one’s performance.
4. Working students perceived their part-time jobs as something that is risky and
challenging. Some struggled adjusting to the new normal policies. Working
students stated that they have to sanitize products first before distributing. Another
stated that, the environment alone is alarming due to public exposure. Other
struggles that the working students have experienced were anxiety and
unproductivity towards their academic performance and part-time job. Some were
left with no choice but to use their income for practical uses such as for modular
learning and household finances. Moreover, others have stated that they have to be
extra careful and choose to do their part-time jobs.

18
Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has major impacts on the academic performance

and part-time jobs of the senior high school working students. These included
anxiety and unproductivity towards their academic performance and part-time jobs.
Perceptions of the senior high school working students included disappointing
unsatisfactory academic performance. One of the impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic is the alternative learning modalities. The senior high school working
students perceived new learning modalities challenging and time-management
demanding. Working students perceived their part-time jobs as something that is
risky and challenging.

Recommendations

Based on the conclusion drawn, the following recommendations are made:

Further research should be done related to the development of monitoring

working students’ academic performance and factors that may also affect their
health and well-being.

1. Research should utilize how working affects not only the physical status
of the students, but also psychologically.

2. Revision of the study should be conducted for further improvement.

3. Students who decide to work while studying should have good time
management, commitment, discipline and sense of responsibility.

4. Parents, teachers, and other concerned organizations should facilitate and

guide working students in engaging in part-time jobs.

19
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

A. Articles

Yatsuya H, Ishitake T. Health of university students under job and financial

insecurity during COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Occupational Health. 2021.
10.1002/1348-9585.12223.

Tsurugano S, Nishikitani M, Inoue M, Yano E. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

on Working Students: Results from the Labour Force Survey and the student
lifestyle survey. Journal of Occupational Health. 2021;63:e12209. https://doi.org?
10.1002/1348-9585.12209

Pragholapati, A. COVID-19 Impact on Students. 2020

Aucejo E, French J, Araya M, Zafar B. The Impact of COVID-19 on Student

Experiences and Expectations: Evidence from a Survey. National Bureau of
Economic Research. 2020. http://www.nber.org/papers/w27392

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B. Electronic Sources

https://www.statisticssolutions.com/qualitative-sampling-techniques/

https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/youth/06/13/10/only-half-working-students-
finish-college-ched

https://en.unesco.org/covid19/educationresponse

https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/offices/elite/national-distance-learning-
week.html

https://e-student.org/

https://psa.gov.ph/content/employment-situation-july-2020#:~:text=There%20were
%20about%207.8%20million,were%20unemployed%20(Table%20A).

21