The Impact of Traffic on the Academic Performance of Grade 11 ABM Students at ACLC

Tacloban
 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

The Philippines has always been infamous for its bad traffic. Traffic congestion refers to

the common urban condition where vehicles move slowly, journeys take longer, and lines of cars

grow due to overloaded roadways. It is a global issue exacerbated by urban growth, poor road

planning, accidents, and weather conditions, necessitates urban planning, efficient public

transportation, and traffic management strategies. Traffic congestion negatively impacts students'

academic performance by causing missed classes, disrupting sleep, increasing stress, and limiting

extracurricular activities (Singh & Reddy2021). To mitigate these effects, authorities should

improve infrastructure and traffic management systems.

In the educational sector, many students worldwide rely on transportation systems for their

daily commute to and from school (Balabanian, 2020). Yet even though transportation offers

convenient school access for many students, it also has notable drawbacks. It can be quite

stressful (Legrain et al. 2015), and several experts argue that lengthy journeys can adversely

impact students' academic performance. This is even made worse with the problem of traffic

congestion (Jamil et al., 2022; Heissel et al., 2022). Studies show that students who travel longer

to reach their schools not only experience reduced sleep but also correlated with lower academic

achievement due to reduced study time. Essentially, study suggests that the longer students are in

transit, the more their education and academic performance suffers (Jamil et al., 2022).

According to Philstar.com (2022), every year in Manila alone, ninety-eight (98) hours are

lost due to traffic or more than four days that Filipinos spend in the Metro's infamous traffic jams

every year. This level of traffic has considerable impacts on both societies, the economy and
individual lives. The school commuting times and modes also disproportionate impact students

with lower well-being scores when faced with increased commuting times suggesting a need for

targeted urban planning and policy interventions to improve transportation infrastructure and

enhance the well-being of these vulnerable groups (Ding & Feng, 2022).

Background of the Study

This study aims to establish and raise awareness among readers and the younger

generation regarding a specific connected study by focusing on particular facts or information in

a designated area regarding the Impact of Traffic on the Academic Performance of Grade 11

ABM at ACLC Tacloban. In addition to focusing on how traffic congestion affects Grade 11

students' academic performance, the study also looks at the different perspectives of students

who are required to commute daily to go to school or a university. This research study proposed

to gather data through a survey to collect information about the certain topic as well as to

compare and explain the various impact of traffic on students’ academic performance for the

readers to understand the specific subject.

The study by Castulo et al. (2019) examined the influence of traffic on the school

attendance, punctuality, and overall academic performance of ABM students. The study

identified three key areas impacted by traffic: regular attendance and timely arrival at school,

willingness to engage in classroom activities, and overall academic productivity. The findings

indicate that traffic contributes to lower academic outcomes primarily due to the stress associated

with commuting delays. Furthermore, the research suggests that traffic-related stress may

compound existing challenges students face in balancing personal responsibilities with academic
demands, potentially leading to disengagement from homework and classroom participation,

which in turn can result in lower quiz scores and diminished academic performance (Castulo et

al., 2019). The Ministry of Education and Vocational Trainings should ensure proper

transportation systems for students in big cities, reschedule school timetables to avoid ant-social

practices, and conduct further studies on the impact of traffic congestion on students' learning

concentration (Mfungo, 2020).

In addition to this, and considering the country's and Tacloban's local traffic congestion, it is

important that researchers examine the different manners in which these situations impact

students' academic lives in the local context. For students everywhere, including those at ACLC

Tacloban, to have access to school, transportation is very important. This study addresses a

critical gap in existing literature by focusing on the specific context of Grade 11 ABM students

at ACLC Tacloban, an area where research on traffic's impact on academic performance remains

unexplored. While previous studies have established a general understanding of how traffic

congestion can negatively affect student performance in various global contexts (Heissel et al.,

2020; Jamil et al., 2022), and others have noted the broader society repercussions of traffic

(Mfungo, 2020), there is a lack of localized insight into how these issues manifest in the unique

setting of Tacloban.

Overall, the purpose of the study is to provide non-numerical information and conceptual

findings to guides the research, prevents mistakes, and helps the researcher focus on the project

goals to develop practical ways for enhancing the educational experience while addressing the

obstacles posed by traffic congestion. Therefore, to better understand the scope of traffic's effects

and to guide future interventions that could lessen these negative outcomes, this study intends to
examine the specific Impact of Traffic on the Academic Performance of Grade 11 ABM students

at ACLC Tacloban.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to determine the impact of Traffic on the Academic Performance of

Grade 11 ABM students at ACLC Tacloban. Specifically, the researchers sought to answer the

following questions:

1. What is the average travel time of Grade 11 ABM students’ ?

2. How does traffic affects student’s overall academic performance?

3. What are the copping techniques to reduce the problems caused by traffic to the students?

Significance of the Study

The purpose of this study is to raise readers' awareness of the problem of how road traffic

affects the academic performance of the students. Everyone needs to be aware of this issue that

exists in our society, but especially students. Additionally, the researchers selected this subject in

order to find answers that would benefit the general public.

Students. This study will help to further expand their knowledge of the different effects of traffic

on their academic performance, one of which they get from their daily commute that they face in

every time they go to school. This will also serve as a guide on how they can solve the effects
caused by traffic which is the main reason why they are late for their classes and affected their

academic performance in class.

Authorities. This study can give more attention to the administration of the problems faced by

students caused by traffic that affects their school attendance especially their academic

performance. It will also help to find a good solution to reduce it by implementing different

regulations of public services and transportation.

Teachers. They will have knowledge of the impact of traffic on the time students arrive at their

respective classrooms, which is why their students are sometimes late for class. This study will

also serve as information for them to expand their understanding and to allow students who

experience this situation to still enter the class.

Researcher. The research will help them find hypotheses about the impact of traffic on academic

performance of ACLC Tacloban students.

Future Researchers. The basis and point of view provided by this research will enable them to

explore ways to make this study better. They can also come up with questions that did not

answer by the study, and that is their goal to solve the arisen problem.

Scope and limitation of the Study

This study focuses on students who have enrolled in ACLC Tacloban. The study will

look at how traffic congestion affects academic performance, taking into account criteria

including attendance, punctuality, and overall grades. The data will be collected to all Grade 11

ABM students, allowing for a thorough investigation of the impact of traffic on academic
 performance. Therefore, the study is not generalizable to other student populations, such as those

from other nations or regions, colleges or universities, or pupils in various strand. Each of the

respondents is given the same questionnaire to answer, and the researchers guarantee the privacy

of all student information. This implies that without the student permission, the researchers will

never give out their names or any other personally identifiable information.

Conceptual Framework

Independent variable

Dependent variable
Traffic Management
The effect of traffic on academic achievement

This study aims to investigate the correlation between traffic conditions and academic

performance, examining whether factors like commute time, stress from traffic, or disruptions to

daily routines impact students’ ability to excel academically. The goal is to provide insights into

how external factors, specifically related to traffic, may influence students’ educational

outcomes.

Theoretical Framework

Boris Kerner's Three-Phase Traffic Theory (2002) provides a comprehensive framework

for understanding traffic congestion, a prevalent issue in urban areas like Tacloban City. As

cities continue to expand and traffic congestion worsens, its impact on various aspects of daily
life becomes more pronounced. In particular, Grade 11 ABM students at ACLC Tacloban are

significantly affected by traffic congestion, as it can lead to delays in their commute, increased

stress levels, and disruptions to their daily routines. These challenges can have a detrimental

effect on their academic performance and overall well-being, highlighting the need to address the

issue effectively. Applying Kerner's theory to the context of ACLC Tacloban allows for a deeper

exploration of how traffic congestion affects Grade 11 ABM students. By understanding the

dynamic nature of traffic flow and its impact on students' daily lives, educators and policymakers

can develop targeted interventions to alleviate the adverse effects of congestion. This may

include implementing flexible scheduling options, providing alternative transportation

arrangements, or advocating for infrastructure improvements to mitigate traffic congestion in the

vicinity of the school. By addressing these challenges, ACLC Tacloban can create a more

conducive learning environment for Grade 11 ABM students, ultimately supporting their

academic success and well-being.

Definition of terms

Congestion. A situation in which a place is too blocked or crowded, causing difficulties.

(DICTIONARY.CAMBRIGE) In this study, it is a term used blockage bottleneck congestion

gridlock logjam roadblock rush hour. Congestion has negative effects on students' academic

performance. Students who attend schools near highways with high levels of pollution

experience decreases in test scores, more behavioral incidents, and more absences compared to

students who attend schools that are upwind.

Traffic Jams. A line of road traffic at or near a standstill because of road construction, an

accident, or heavy congestion. (DICTIONARY)In this study, it is a term used blockage,

bottleneck, congestion, gridlock, logjam, roadblock, rush hour. A long line of vehicles that

cannot move forward because there is too much traffic, or because the road is blocked by

something.