Self-Esteem Enhancement Program: its Effect on the Academic Performance of Grade VI Pupils

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

A classroom teacher often faces different challenges. To name some: classroom management, misbehaved students, and low academic performance. Studies have been conducted to find the root cause of the mentioned challenges. Most studies equate these problems to absenteeism, family problems, peer influence, and even teacher-factor problems. As written on the Wikipedia, from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, many Americans assumed that students' self-esteem acted as a critical factor in the grades that they earn in school, in their relationships with their peers, and in their later success in life. The above article gave the researcher the idea of conducting a study about self-esteem of the students and find out if it has to do with their academic performance.

METHODS

The researcher adopted the Quasi-experiment Design. The researcher also used the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale available online to determine the level of self-esteem of the students. Based on the scale, a score of 15 and lower means low self-esteem. After identifying the students with low self-esteem, enhancement activities were carried on. Self-esteem enhancement programs include a weekly mini-seminar on how to improve the level of self-esteem. Video presentation and movie clips were shown. Different activities to develop the self-esteem of the pupils were also done every other day during free time.

RESULTS

The highlights of the findings of the study are: 1) The result of the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale increased from pre to post-test. 2) The grades of the students improved on the second grading.3) The t-value which is 1.425 is less than the critical value of 1.76, with 48 degree freedom and level of significance of .05. It means that there was a significant difference between the academic performance of the students for the first and second grading.4) The t-test correlated 0.449 is less than the critical value of 3.24 with 48 degree of freedom at .05 level of significance. It means that the self-esteem enhancement program was effective.

DISCUSSIONS

The self-esteem enhancement program did not only help the students enhance their level of self-esteem but it also helped them improved their academic performance. Based on the result of this study, teachers should assess the self-esteem of their pupils at the start of school year to find out who needs help. They should also provide self-esteem enhancement activities whenever possible. It could be integrated in different subject areas.