Extent of the Implementation of 4Ps: Its Effect to the Academic Performance and Behavior of Its Beneficiaries in Public Schools

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Poverty is one of the main reasons a child cannot have a good education. Even if public schools are completely free, a child cannot concentrate on his/her lessons if his/her stomach is empty. To eradicate extreme poverty in the Philippines, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. It provides cash assistance to poor families to alleviate their immediate needs and aims to "break the intergenerational poverty cycle through investments in human capital". This study investigated the effects of 4Ps, the Philippine version of the conditional cash transfer program, on the academic performance and behavior of beneficiaries among public schools in Pila, Laguna.

METHODS

The respondents of the study were composed of one hundred twenty (120) Grade III beneficiaries of 4Ps from different public schools in Pila, their parents and twelve (12) 4Ps advisers. This research used the descriptive method with the questionnaire as the main tool in the data gathering procedure. The data gathered were treated using the frequency and percentage distribution, mean and standard deviation and T-test.

RESULTS

From the data gathered, it was concluded that attendance compliance has the only significant effect on the self-confidence. For socialization, all variables are not significant. The 4Ps has significant effect on the Academic Performance but not significant to child's behavior of the beneficiaries.

DISCUSSIONS

The 4Ps can give additional cash for those school or beneficiaries who can get highest result in NAT so that beneficiaries will be motivated. Since 4Ps Program has no effect on child's behavior, teachers and parents may attend seminars on the development of child's behavior.