CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND IT’S BACKGROUND

Introduction

In this modern generation it is challenging to be a student who also works. You must give

all you have while working, and when you get home, you must study hard for your classes,

which involve homework. You must have the drive to persevere while still maintaining a positive

state of mind. Compared to students who are not employed, students who have jobs feel more

pressured. Balancing work and school errands are exhausting, and it can result in stress that can

cause them loss of appetite or overeating, trouble concentrating, trouble making decisions, or

feelings of restlessness and worry.

The instance of working while studying has become an increasingly common

phenomenon among students in the higher education system (Jewell, 2014; Tumin & Faizuddin,

2017) because Ansong & Gyensare (2012) believed that university students have numerous

challenges to overcome to attain their optimal academic performance. Nowadays, it is very

common for students to work while studying in pursuit of their dreams in life. Despite

experiencing and facing various challenges, working students tend to find alternative ways to

overcome difficulties. They are adaptable and persistent in the face of adversity. These working

students are fighters who continue striving for their scholastic visions to earn a degree despite

the challenges of both work and studies. They are worthy of emulation and are regarded as living

superheroes because they work hard to achieve the grades they desire while also working to earn

a living and ensure their survival. The need of these students to work more may be linked to

parents’ limited means of providing financial support, suggesting that working alongside studies

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is linked to financial demands. Socioeconomic factors greatly affect the academic performance

of students (Balacuit, 2018). However, combining work and studies has more detrimental effects

on academic success if the student's job is not related to their studies (Sanchez-Gelabert et al.

2017).

Working and studying at the same time teaches students the value of being responsible.

Combining academic study with employment is typical for a wide range of students because

work becomes an additional source of knowledge and skills, as well as a motivation to learn.

According to Abenoja et al. (2019) studying while working is undoubtedly tough because it

requires managing your social life, family time, school, and work. Some studies show that

students who work are more confident and possess better time-management skills than full-time

students. Kosi et al. (2014) confirmed that by working, students may gain valuable experience

that might enhance their future opportunities in the labor market, and it will increase their

academic motivation if their assigned task is related to their field of study. Considering working

students to be part of the nation’s workforce. They include both students who depend on their

parents or other adults for money and students who can take care of themselves and their

families.

Working students experience different challenges while studying. The number one

challenge they may face is time management. Allocating time for work and study is a very hard

task to fulfill. It is detrimental for students to work full time alongside studying because

Hovdhaugen (2015) believes that they are less likely to complete their program or degree than

students working part-time or not working at all. Another, being stressed, is also a challenge they

might face due to exhaustion of the mind and not having enough time to rest and sleep due to

school requirements and work issues. Charmaine (2014) shared that there are lots of problems

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working students must face without escape. They have three major roles to fulfill: the role as a

student, the role as a worker, and the role as a human. As a student, focusing on class and

budgeting time to review all the piled-up lessons is quite challenging. As a worker, it is never

easy to maintain the accuracy and promptness of a working student’s work. As a human, the lack

of time to socialize with family and friends is also affected or compromised. CHED (2010)

claimed that only half of the employed students can finish college, as many cannot concentrate

on their studies, while others have poor health, and others give up because of financial problems.

Over the years, the number of college students who work and study has increased rapidly.

In this research, it primarily explores the challenges of working students for the colleges

to contribute support and provide techniques on how the students can excel academically despite

the difficulties and challenges of working while studying. This study will further offer facts and

ideas on the factors affecting the academic challenges of working scholars. Moreover, this study

will be beneficial not only for the working students but also to the educational institutions

accommodating working students.

Background of the Study

This study explores how the student creates ways to maximize their time in working and

in studying. The aim of this study is to investigate and identify students challenges in academic

while working. Next, how they deal and cope with such difficulties. We conduct this study to

know the challenges of the working students in academic and after that to contribute support and

provide techniques in terms of their challenges.

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Statement of the Problem

This study aims to know the academic challenges of the working students in St. Rose

College Educational Foundation Inc. Specifically, this are the following questions;

1. What is the profile of students in terms of:

1.1 Age;

1.2 Sex;

1.3 Status;

1.4 Academic status;

1.5 Year level;

1.6 Work; and

1.7 Monthly income?

2. What are the challenges faced by students when working while studying in terms of;

2.1 Student’s Experience;

2.2Factors Affecting Working Students;

2.3 Effects of Working Students While Studying?

3. What are the positive and negative effects of working while studying in terms of;

3.1 Financial;

3.2 Social;

3.3 Psychological;

3.4 Teacher’s factor;

3.5 Classroom environment?

4. What are suggestions and recommendations for students who are working while

studying?

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Hypothesis

There is no significant relationship between age and challenges among working students

except for student experience.

There is no significant relationship between sex and the challenges among working

students.

There is no significant relationship between marital status and the challenges among

working student except student experience and effects of working while studying.

There is no significant relationship between academic status and the challenges among

working students.

There is no significant relationship between year level and the challenges among working

students except for student experience and effects of working while studying.

There is significant relationship between work and the challenges among working students.

There is significant relationship between monthly income and the challenges among

working students except for social aspect, teachers factor, and classroom environment.

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Significance of the Study

This study is to be conducted to identify Working while Studying the Academic

Challenges Among Working Students in St. Rose College Educational Foundation INC. This

study is significant and would be beneficial to the following:

To the Working Students. This study will motivate them to manage their responsibilities

towards school and work so that their academic performance will not be affected in favor of their

work or vice versa.

To the Parents. This study will give the parents an idea of the problems working

students have encountered. This will motivate them to become more supportive and more

understanding towards their children

To the School Administrator. School administrators will benefit from the results of the

study by applying the proposed action plan which will help minimize drop- outs among working

students.

To the Researchers. This will deepen the researchers’ knowledge of the lives and

struggles of the working students in their quest for success.

To the Future Researchers. Future researchers will benefit from the study because this

will serve as their source and guide for future studies.

Scope and Delimitation

This study was designed to identify the academic challenges of working students in St.

Rose Colleges Educational Foundation Inc.

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Definition of Terms

For clearer understanding of the study, the following are defined:

Academic status – students standing based on their performance.

Academic Performance - the measurement of student achievement across various

academic subjects.

Action Plan - devised to intervene in a problem being assessed.

Classroom behavior – a working student needs a classroom that can affect their student

motivation to put more effort into their study.

Employment prospect - the possibility of an individual applying for or getting a certain

role.

Experience - knowledge or skill from doing, seeing, or feeling things.

Financial – the needs of every working student to sustain their study and for their

personal needs.

Financial Crisis- they do not have enough money for their daily expenses.

Mental Health - our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we

think, feel, and act.

Monthly income – their personal income from work.

Motivation - is a driving factor for actions, willingness, and goals.

Part-time - an employed person whose normal hours of work are fewer than full-time

worker.

Problem Encountered - the hindrance and obstacles the working students met that would

affect their academic performance.

Promptness - the quality or habit of arriving somewhere at the right time.

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 Psychological – studying and working at the same time have a lot of positive effects for

the psychological well-being of the student.

Responsibilities - things that we must do.

Social – most of the working students lack time and no time to socialize.

Sleep Deprivation - state brought on by poor sleep quality or quantity.

Student experience – complication of the students studying while working.

Teachers’ factors – teachers change their perception of the working student and adjust

the classroom behavior for the working students.

Time Management - making your day purposeful. It is about taking control of the time

you have and optimizing it for focus, productivity, and above all, balance.

Working Students - Students who are working while studying either outside or inside

the campus.