ABSTRACT
This study analysed the lived experiences of Balik-Aral SHS students. The goal was to feature the change of perspective in terms of academic performance and behavioural aspect of the respondents after being dropped from school due to engaging from different vices. This has been done through a qualitative research design, specifically case study.
Furthermore, the design used in the study allows the researcher to conduct an interview and to reflect deeper on the study composed of two identified SHS Balik-Aral student in Camp Vicente Lim Integrated School. Moreover, there are five major themes that are being realized from the challenges of the SHS Balik-Aral students such as: (1) Custodial Conflict, (2) Financial Scarcity, (3) Vices, (4) School Conflicts, and (5) Depression. On the other hand, there are four major themes on the coping mechanisms that they have used such as: (1) Change of Residency, (2) Academic Peer Influence, (3) Familial Support, and (4) Social Assistance.
The result of this study served as the basis for making a Dropout Prevention/Graduation Completion Plan. The plan has its specific objectives to increase the graduation rate, to reduce the school’s dropout rate, and to decrease the school’s truancy rate.
I. Introduction
This phenomenological study features the school perspective on dropping out. Several qualitative studies or interpretative studies have considered how school themselves engage in practices or create conditions that push certain types of students out of school, especially those who exhibit the social and academic factors.
Categorically, social risk includes demographic factors, associated with a higher likelihood of school difficulties: race, age, language-minority status, gender, family income, parents’ education, and family structure (Lee, et.al. 2003). On the other hand, academic factors deal with students’ school behaviour and performance, reflect the actual manifestation of school-related problems (Lee, et.al. 2003).
In line with this, Camp Vicente Lim Integrated School (CVLIS) is encountering difficulty when it comes to eradicating the instance of dropout. Despite of the series of symposium being conducted by the school administrators among the parents and counselling of the guidance counsellor and class advisers, the number has not yet being zeroed.
In this study, the researcher captured the different anecdotes of the students who dropped-out or failed from school and became a Balik-aral. It took note of how they were able to manage the circumstances, specifically on how they end up victoriously amidst the hurdles that nearly made them give up. It is also noteworthy to understand how these children were rebooted and motivated to continue learning despite their experience of dropping out or failing their subjects. How they championed over the obstacles and what inspired them to carry on are interesting cases needed to be studied and shared to students who are in the same dilemma.
In this case, the school administrators as well as the teachers would also be alerted by the facts and reasons of the students along with their first-hand experiences that let them to decide and return to schooling.
The researcher proposed a Dropout Prevention/ Graduation Completion Plan that was adopted from Jackson Public School by Dr. Freddrick Murray, Interim Superintendent, written and approved by the board last November 28, 2017 in Michigan, USA. The researcher modified the plan and anchored the interventions based on the School Improvement Plan (SIP) 2019-2022 as well as to the Heart and Hand Extended for Learners’ Progress (HELP) of the Division of Calamba City.
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