CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

Introduction

The effect of poverty on academic performance is a significant issue that affects

many students around the world. Poverty can have a detrimental impact on a student's
ability to succeed academically. One of the main effects of poverty on academic
performance is the lack of resources available to students. Students from low-income
families often face challenges such as limited access to educational materials,
technology, and extracurricular activities. These resources are essential for a well-
rounded education and can greatly impact a student's academic performance.
Additionally, poverty can lead to unstable living conditions, which can disrupt a
student's learning environment. Students living in poverty may experience frequent
moves, overcrowded housing, or lack of access to necessities such as food and
healthcare. These unstable conditions can make it difficult for students to focus on
their studies and perform well academically. Furthermore, poverty can also impact a
student's emotional well-being and motivation. Students from low-income
backgrounds may face stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem due to their financial
struggles. These emotional challenges can affect their ability to concentrate,
participate in class, and engage in their studies effectively. It is important to note that
poverty does not determine a student's intelligence or potential. However, the lack of
resources and support that often accompany poverty can create barriers to academic
success.

Efforts to address the effects of poverty on academic performance should focus

on providing equal access to resources and support for all students, regardless of their
socioeconomic background. This can include initiatives such as providing financial
assistance. Poverty is a pervasive issue that affects individuals and communities
worldwide. It is a condition characterized by the lack of necessities such as food,
shelter, clothing, and access to education. Poverty has far-reaching consequences, and
one area where its impact is particularly evident is in the academic performance of
students.
 People who live in poverty have difficulty to achieve those as they are not
welcome in many places because of their income. They have troubles in maintaining
their health, hunger, and most especially education. It is the hopelessness of the
people along with their disappointment and suffering. Poverty is a big issue that needs
to be addressed by everybody in the world because it has a strong impact when it
comes to education. Lots of children now a days are unable to finish their studies
because of the hardships of life and lack of work from their parents and lot of children
are involved in illegal doing.

Education is considered one of the most important tools to escape poverty, but
poverty itself poses a significant challenge for children. Children living in poverty
often struggle academically, with lower test scores and graduation rates than their
peers. They may have poor attendance, low motivation, and limited access to
educational resources, all of which affect their academic performance. Poverty
directly affects academic achievement due to the lack of resources available for
student success. Low achievement is closely correlated with the lack of resources, and
numerous studies have documented the correlation between low socioeconomic status
and low achievement. Poverty affects the education of one child for it is known to be
on factor to prevent a child from pursuing their rights to have education. Children that
possess an anxious and indifferent character typically exhibit bad behavior both in the
home set up and in school. Once children are in school, their socialization, and social
status tend to affect their behavior significantly. Children raised in poverty rarely
choose to behave differently, but they are face daily with overwhelming challenges
that affluent children never have to confront, and their brains have adapted to
suboptimal conditions in ways that undermine good school performance.

Based on the studies of Duncan, Kalil & Ziol-Gues, findings showed that poor
children from financially disadvantaged homes begin school academically and
behaviorally behind their more affluent peers, and the gap continues to widen over the
school years (Duncan, Kalil, & Ziol-Guest, 2013). [1] Parental involvement has also
been studied and researched to help aid academic achievements in students. We all
know that studying is very important to anyone because it improves our knowledge
to everything in this world. But some of them chose to stop because instead of
studying they are not working to help their family, to support their daily needs. Many
of these students struggle academically and have less parental support than their
financially stable peers. That is why, number of out-of-school youth arises. Poverty
makes a child have a low confidence because of their family status (such as poor or
rich). It summons racism everywhere.

According to the studies of Wadsworth, findings showed that the stress of low
socio-economic status can lead to adolescent psychological problems, the likes of
which include anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues (Wadsworth,2008). [2]
Moreover, students coping with poverty face deep humiliation and embarrassment
when their appearance, clothing, and personal hygiene, are not the same as their peers
(Beegle,2003); [3] impoverished children must overcome ostensibly insurmountable
odds when already debilitated by their environmental upbringing and unjust social
bias. Poverty is not an obstacle or thus each child shall have the right to receive a
good education that is provided by the government.

The government has an educational program as well as feeding program for

poor family. They are providing budgets and granting scholarship program
to all those qualified poor students, willing to study and become successful in
life. There are also LGU’s and private sector helping poor students to achieve their
dream. According to Muhammad Yunus (2006) [4] believes that creating a world free
from poverty is possible, as many poor people can get themselves out of poverty if
they are given the same opportunities as those afforded to people who are not poor.

This research was made to enlighten the mind of a students or adolescence that
poverty is not a hindrance in success in life. They should pursue their studies despite
the status of their family. They must use the government program that is especially
provided for the poor and enjoy the rights of a child to study. By informing people
with all this information we would like to see them acting towers to this issue. It
would be very helpful if people help does with need after reading this research paper
that we made. Poverty is not a reason, but it is an inspiration to grow. To acquire
education is one of the important human rights in all societies. Poverty has remained a
stumbling block for most people to achieve this basic right. Poverty stricken members
of humans have always struggled in several ways to attain good living standards.
Poverty brings several challenges to its victims such as access to proper health
facilities, education, nutrition, employment, and the realization of personal desire.
 Concern to this study is challenges that poverty-stricken students face in their
mission for education. The danger of poverty-stricken students in exasperated by
stringent school policies that pertain the payment of fees, attitudes by teachers and
fellow students, shortage of food, school wear and stationery. An unsupportive home
environment further complicates the poverty-stricken students’ drive to acquire good
education.

The current economic crisis where the prices of basic goods are very high adds
more suffering to the already poverty-stricken students. Higher needs like education
can become dominant only when lower needs such as hunger and thirst have been
satisfied. Secondary school students do not benefit from this program despite their
family socio- economic background and status. However, Secondary School students
need more food than their primary school counterparts since they belong to the
adolescence stage. During adolescence boys and girls experience physical changes
that prepare their body Maximum physical, sexual and mental development.
Malnutrition because of poor diet might lead to ill health which contributed to
absenteeism at school. The lack of resources and infrastructure in schools affect the
quality of education that students receive. Without proper facilities, it makes feel
difficult for them to concentrate in the school, they may feel shy or not belong inside
of the classroom because it has a possible that bullied will involve, especially to those
people who can't afford new shoes, bags, clothes, or books.

This factor undermines students’ confidence which has an impact on their

studies. School education is the most important aspects of persons life, it is the
beginning of life's growth and development of all children, this also considered which
child begins to set their future and goals.

Statement of the Problem

Poverty is detrimental to school performance in Secondary Schools in Bulusan

High School in Bulusan, Sorsogon. Students from poor families suffer from starvation
at home, have no proper uniforms. These problems negatively affect their learning
progress hence poor performance in school. Poverty directly affects academic
achievement due to the lack of resources available for student success. Low
achievement is closely correlated with the lack of resources, and numerous studies
have documented the correlation between low socioeconomic status and low
achievement. More specifically, it answered the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

a. age

b. gender

c. family income

2. What are the possible causes and the effects of poverty?

3. How can we solve the problem of the students when it comes to their lack of money
and finance?

4. What are the effects of poverty in the academic performance of the students?

Significance of the Study

The significance of studying the effect of poverty on academic performance is

multifaceted and holds importance for various stakeholders.

Department of Education. Firstly, understanding the impact of poverty on

academic performance can help educators and policymakers develop targeted
interventions and support systems for students from low-income backgrounds. By
identifying the specific challenges faced by these students, educational institutions
can implement strategies to bridge the achievement gap and provide equal
opportunities for academic success.

Government. Secondly, the findings of this study can inform the development
of social welfare programs and policies aimed at alleviating poverty. By highlighting
the link between poverty and academic performance, policy makers can advocate for
initiatives that address the underlying socioeconomic factors contributing to
educational disparities. This can lead to the implementation of programs that provide
financial assistance, access to educational resources, and support services for students
in poverty.

Parents. Thirdly, the study's findings can raise awareness among the parents
about the challenges faced by their children in poverty and the importance of equal
educational opportunities. This awareness can foster empathy and understanding,
encouraging individuals and communities to support initiatives that promote
educational equity and social justice.

Students. Fourthly, Their Predicaments may be revealed in this study so that

concerned authorities may become aware.

Researchers. Lastly, the study can contribute to the existing body of research on
poverty and education, adding to the knowledge base and informing future studies in
the field. By expanding our understanding of the complex relationship between
poverty and academic performance, researchers can continue to explore effective
strategies and interventions to mitigate the negative effects of poverty on students'
educational outcomes.

Overall, the significance of this study lies in its potential to drive positive
change in educational policies,

Scope and Delimitation

This study will conduct a survey and take place in Bulusan, Sorsogon Area
specifically in Public Schools. Specifically, it will be done in Bulusan High School
since BHS is a public school and have a lot of students. Meanwhile this study will
investigate and observe after the interview if poverty is really affecting the students’
academic performance. On the other hand, this study is to investigate if poverty is the
reason of the academic performance of a Grade 10 student. Thus, it will not include to
the interview who are not suffering from poverty only those who live in remote areas.

Definition of Terms
Poverty – the state of being poor.

Government – The group of people who control and make decisions for a country,
state etc.

Scholarship – Serious formal study or research of a project.

Job – The work that a person does regularly to earn money.

LGU – (Local Government Units) Officially local government in the Philippines.

Private Sector – The part of the national economy that is not under direct
government control.

Hungriness – Suffering because of lack of food, greatly affected by hunger.

Low income – Not having or earning enough money.

Society – People in general communities which share laws, traditions, and values.

Racism – Poor treatment of a violence against people because their race.

Suppress – To end or stop something by force.

Hindrance – A person or thing that makes a situation.

NOTES
[1]
McKenzie K · (2019) The Effect of Poverty in Academic Achievement., Retrieved
October 13, 2023, from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268015931_The_effects_of_poverty_on_ac
ademic_achievement.

[2]
Umusiime P · (2019) The impact Of Poverty on Academic Performance (2019)
Retrieved October 13, 2023, from
https://ir.kiu.ac.ug/bitstream/20.500.12306/3355/1/img01173.pdf.

[3]
ATIENO H · (2020) Effects of poverty on students in academic performance,
Retrieved October 13, 2023, from https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/bulacan-
state-university/bsed-math/the-effects-of-poverty-in-the-academic-p/41027374.

[4]
https://ir.gretsauniversity.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/20.500.12736/2010/EFFECTS
%20OF%20POVERTY%20ON%20STUDENTS%E2%80%99%20ACADEMIC
%20%20%20PERFORMANCE%20IN%20SECONDARY%20SCHOOLS%20IN
%20SUNA%20EAST%20SUB%20%E2%80%93%20COUNTY%2C%20.pdf?
sequence=1&isAllowed=y

THE EFFECT OF POVERTY ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF

GRADE 10 STUDENTS IN BULUSAN HIGH SCHOOL
 JOHN ARIS H. QUIMPO

KRISSIA MAY MIRA

ROMER GALAN

KIM G. QUI ÑONES

KIRBY BALOLOY

ROZHAINE GALAN

A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULLFILMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2 OF GENERAL
ACADEMIC STRAND (GAS – B)

BULUSAN HIGH SCHOOL

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

BULUSAN, SORSOGON

OCTOBER 2023