Analysis of Academic Performance of Six-Year-Old and Seven-Year-Old Grade One Pupils in Nasugbu West Central School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Pursuant to the DECS OrderNo.65, s.1994, a National Enrolment Day for Grade I shall be held every last Monday of January for every year beginning January 30, 1995. Under this policy, students may enter a formal school as Grade I students at the age of six instead of the previous rule accepting only seven-year-olds as enrollees. The age requirement will mean that a doubled number of enrollees will be entering Grade I. This study tried to find out how formal early education affects the academic level of performance of six-year-old and seven-year-old Grade 1 pupils enrolled in Nasugbu West Central School. It sought to find out the possible benefits of attending formal early education for a child.

METHODS

The Grade I pupils of NWCS were the subject of this research. The content of the analysis included the academic performance of 40 Grade I pupils aged six years old and forty pupils aged seven years old in three subjects. The data were taken from their Report Card and Transcript of Record. The study used analytical design in determining the effects of early education. The pupils' data were identified from the enrolment list of the school. These pupils represented 14 percent of the total enrolment in Grade I. A total of eighty children were involved in this research.

RESULTS

This study concentrated only on the academic ratings in English, Filipino, and Mathematics of the pupils. Performance of the pupils was done periodically in a school year. Numerical ratings were used. Mathematical skills were not mastered. English and Filipino got a nearing mastery rating. This means that pupils aged 6 can read and also comprehend. The result showed that only the Filipino subject was mastered because pupils of this age can already read and comprehend the concepts very well. Mathematics was nearing mastery and it proved that the skills in the Kindergarten were emphasized. English is also nearing mastery. There was no subject that was not mastered by aged 7 pupils. This shows that grade 1 pupils aged 7 years old perform better than the grade 1 pupils aged 6 years old.

DISCUSSIONS

The results of the research demonstrated that: The grade 1 pupils aged 6 years old were not performing well in the three academic subjects while the grade I pupils aged 7 years old performed well. There was a significant difference in the academic performance in the three academic subjects of the pupils between aged 6 and aged 7. A proposed intervention program was designed for elevating the academic performance of aged 6 pupils in Grade I.