Cultural Diversity and Its Perceived Effects on Academic Performance of Students in a Public School in Makati City: Basis for an Advocacy Program for Multicultural Diversity

Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether factors of cultural diversity specifically ethnicity, language and religion affects the academic performance of culturally diverse students enrolled in a public school in Makati City during the school year 2015–16 which was the basis for the Advocacy Program for Multicultural Diversity. The research employed descriptive method utilising purposive sampling technique. The respondents of the study were the 150 culturally diverse students from grade 7 to grade 10 levels. The study utilised a researcher made instrument with a five point Likert scale response and were validated by the thesis panel before administering it to the respondents. The research instrument was able to obtain necessary information in determining whether factors of cultural diversity affect academic performance. For the statistical treatment, the researcher had employed a reliable statistician who had helped in data organisation and computation. The data processing was done through the use of SPSS version 20 and was analysed utilising the following techniques in presenting the data for quantitative analyses: frequency and percentage, mean, standard deviation and Pearson r Correlation. The study sought for the answer to the statement of the problem mentioned in the beginning part of the research. Out of the findings and conclusion obtained in this study, an Advocacy Program for Multicultural Diversitywas recommended in order to help the present study achieve its ultimate goal of ensuring the delivery of quality education to all students without biases, discrimination and prejudice.