Adopt-A-Student Program in Public Secondary Schools in Lubao, Division of Pampanga: Basis for Intervention

Abstract

Introduction

Graduating from high school is a cornerstone of future success. Opportunities open doors to higher education-the tertiary level which leads one to high paying jobs in the future. To earn a diploma signifies a sweet victory for it gives more chances in accomplishing one's endeavor. On the contrary, students who dropout of school face a difficult path. They are more likely to be unemployed, incarcerated, and/or impoverished. For the students who stop, the risks are intensified. Hence, it is very important to motivate learners to finish their education so a better future lies ahead of them. As one of the school's initiatives, the Adopt-a-Student Program (ASP), is conceived to reduce the number of drop-out students and help them continue and finish their studies.

Methods

The researcher used the descriptive method of research using a questionnaire and an unstructured interview to verify relevant concepts and information. The study purposively selected the 320 teacher respondents from 6 public secondary schools in Lubao, Division of Pampanga whose population is more than 500 students and with a great number of dropout students in the last three school years of 2013-2014, 2014-2015, and 2015-2016.

Results

The positive effects of the adopt-a-student program as shown on the attendance and punctuality, academic performance, and students’ behavior affirmed the attainment of the goals of the program towards improving the engagement of learners in schooling and increase their likelihood of finishing education. This implied further the need to assess the beneficiaries and the cooperation of each stakeholder to ensure that the general welfare of the learners will be accounted for and prioritized. Likewise, the results called for the continuous improvement and monitoring of the program to further have a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of the program. Such an initiative could make the program more viable to the clientele of education.

Discussions

The effects of the adopt-a-student program were often observed by the teachers, indicating that it has improved on the attendance and punctuality, academic performance and students' behavior making it effective as an intervention program in reducing the drop-out rates in school. The students who were under the ASP kept them engaged in schooling and it fosters positive relationships with their teachers and their classmates that create classroom environments more conducive to learning to meet their academic needs.