Assessment of Nutritional Status and the Academic Performance of Grade Three at Lemery Pilot Elementary School: Basis for Enhance Feeding Program

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The key to obtaining considerable growth in any nation or certain community depends mainly on their quality of education. As generally perceived, the basis of authentic progress must begin with the advancement of human resources. Furthermore, health is one of the exalted factors of academic development in education. It can decrease the rate of academic performance if the state of health is unstable. The unstable nutritional status will inhibit growth, retard mental development, and reduce motivation and energy level, causing a reduction of educational attainment and delay in school entry.

METHODS

To gather information about the present condition, the researcher employed the descriptive method of research. Descriptive research pertains to the process of adequately and accurately interpreting data which were previously gathered, analyzed, classified and tabulated. These data are about existing situations, practices, beliefs, procedures, trends, and cause-effect relationships which will be inferred with or without the help of statistical method. Paler-Calmorin and Calmorin (2000) explained that the descriptive method focuses on the present existing situation and the purpose is to find new truth and causal relationship. The researcher used the data of the school as well as a self-made questionnaire to determine the academic performance of the students. Interviews and observation were also used to substantiate the data needed for the study.

RESULTS

Pupils under wasted and severely wasted nutritional health status greatly affect their perfromace in terms of their curricular activities. It is a clear indication that even though the school provides a feeding program, still there is a need to upgrade their curricular activities based on the average weighted mean.

DISCUSSIONS

There was a clear sign that the feeding program has an impact on the pupils of the said program. The average weighted mean means that there is a need for a follow up. Through this, the researcher developed an enhanced feeding program which will alleviate the academic performance as well as the nutritional status of the students.