Performance in The National Achievement Test of Quirino General High School for School Year 2017-2018 : Basis for Strategic Intervention for Better Learning Outcomes

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Every school year the Department of Education administers National Achievement Test (NAT) for Grade III and VI. It aims to assess the pupils' performance and it will evaluate the performance of the school. The NAT is an examination that assesses the competency of both public and private school pupils. A different set of test is given to Grade 6 pupils where each of the following 5 subjects is assigned 40 items: (Filipino, English, Math, Science, and HEKASI).

METHODS

The researchers used descriptive-correlational design utilizing qualitative-quantitative method which was directed on determining and describing the performance in the NAT and the significant correlations between variables. For the qualitative aspect, Focus Group Discussion was conducted to ascertain the issues and problems along 21st century skills.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the performance in NAT was below the mastery level of 75 percent. Among the five (5) core areas, Filipino has the highest mean of 64.00 described as Nearly Proficient, while Science was described as Low Proficient with 39.06. Along Problem Solving, Information Literacy, and Critical Thinking, the performance was generally described as Nearly Proficient and these skills are significantly related to each other as they entailed a p value lesser than .05. Specifically, Information Literacy and Critical Thinking skills were both interpreted as Low Proficient. Furthermore, external factors like student's view of family, environment to include technology and extracurricular activities, media, poor study habits, difficulty in making decisions for what is right and wrong were the issues and concerns encountered which might have contributed to a low performance.

DISCUSSIONS

From the results, the researchers came up with an intervention called National Achievement Test Assessment and Impact Review (NAT AIR) to improve and increase the academic performance of the students. Different programs in each subject area will be implemented under NAT AIR.