CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

In the educational journey of students, classrooms play a pivotal role as nurturing

environments where dreams are pursued and memories are created. High school

classrooms create memories and attachments for students regarding specific details, such

as their daily routines of going to their respective classrooms, sitting in their chairs,

participating in lessons, and cleaning the classroom, all in which makes a wonderful and

unforgettable experience on student’s academic journey

Aristotle (Roots of Educational Theory, n.d.). believe that the purpose of going to

school was to develop and exercise students’ potential for reasoning, form ethical

character, and provide a skill and knowledge base. He thought the purpose of schooling

was to develop dispositions and habits that exercise reason and forming a human’s ethos.

A good physical classroom environment can greatly enhance student’s creativity and

academic integrity, for it can make the learners more at ease inside the classroom, having

a focused mindset, meaning there are fewer distractions hindering the student's academic

performance, when students feel included in a positive classroom climate and their needs

are being met, they’ll feel empowered to become active participants in their learning and

reach their full potential (Ivory, 2021, The Importance of Classroom Community.).

Students’ comfortability in a classroom is very severe for their academic situation too.

Having that good classroom environment is essential for the Senior Highschool

students in Leyte National High School HUMSS strand, for it can boost the study of
human science and over all education of Filipino students. The classrooms in HUMSS

should serve as a training ground for individual students who wants to pursue education

of law, human psychology, human sciences, and philosophy for it is one of the most

important roles in our society, as they train themselves for the better future and help for

the future time of our society through the power of education inside the classroom.

A quick insight in Leyte National High School HUMSS strand classroom would

help us better understand on what is going on, on the minds of senior high school

HUMSS students, there thoughts and opinions on the sudden change of classroom

environment is important for the pursuit of education. Also, an insight inside the

classrooms would be beneficial for students studying that strand, and also our research on

the sudden change of school campus.

One issue that the Department of Education still faces today is the lack of

classrooms. Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas of The Department of Education said the

country fell short of 159,000 classrooms in the school year of 2023-2024, school year

classroom shortfall is far more severe than last year’s shortage of 91,000 classrooms.

During the Basic Education Report (BER) on Wednesday, August 23, he stated to the

Senate Committee that the department have established already under our school’s

infrastructure and facilities trend, that the total gap, covering all the damages brought

about by the typhoons and lack of classrooms is 159,000 classrooms all over the country,

this is the total gap that we have in terms of facilities, classrooms particularly. (Macasero,

R. (2023, August 23). Philippine classroom shortage rises to 159,000 – DepEd.

RAPPLER.)
 Just lately, The Department of Education initiated construction for new

classrooms, however upon the construction, the department faced shortage of its targeted

number of classrooms of around 6,300 and only building just around half of DepEd’s

target number of new classrooms in 2023, based on figures shared by the Vice President

and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, she stated during her second DepEd Basic

Education Report that the education department constructed an exact number of 3,673

new classrooms which represents just 58% of DepEd’s target number of 6,379 new

classrooms in 2023. (Chi, C. (2024, January 25). Just around half of DepEd’s target

number of classrooms built in 2023. Philstar.com.)

Having a good classroom is very important, especially those of the Senior

Highschool students, for their environment can have a great effect to the student’s future.

An environment that is prone to chaos only leads to students in that classroom to focus

less in class and can make the student's less motivated into going to school because of

their exposed environment.

As stated on the last paragraph the student to classroom ratio is a big aspect, it can

play a pivotal role on each individual students, because the physical environment of a

classroom determines whether or not students would be motivated to finish their

education. The hindrance of a poor classroom environment should not be overlooked in

the LNHS HUMSS strand. For their education is our futures education.

The recent events switching the HUMSS strand to the main campus affected a lot

of students, to their daily routine, change of financial spending on commuting, exposure

to a new environment, and the overall situation inside their classrooms. Classrooms can

be taxing places for young children as they face new and often difficult demands,
potentially surrounded by poor infrastructure or distracted teachers and disruptive

students (Milkie and Warner, 2011) is true in the context situation in Leyte National High

School HUMSS strand for students and teachers are greatly affected by the sudden

environmental change.

Furthermore, the sudden change of campuses can affect the time management and

financial spending of each student. The distance of the campus at Anibong to the main

campus cite was further added by 2.2km, that alone is a 10-minute commute ride, and we

are not considering the traffic and the time to wait for the public transport to arrive.

Financial spending is also affected by the movement of the campus for the increase in

distance means increase in travel payment, this affects the students who lives further and

near the new campus site.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

(Mandela, Britannica; 1990). Yet, in the face of inadequate facilities and adversity,

students’ ability to access this weapon is severely compromised and straitened.

February 20, amidst of the school year 2023-2024, the 7 sections of Grade 11

HUMSS from Leyte National High School Annex was once again relocated back to the

main campus of Leyte National High school, after staying at the former Anibong Night

High School for almost eight months.

Main thing a school must consider is safety and comfort of the students enabling

them to foster holistic development (Dewy, J. Democracy and Education; 1916).

Apparently, due to the over population of students from different grade levels and
strands, LNHS cannot accommodate all of the student’s welfare, there are students who’s

comfort and safety is obstructed, especially the Grade 11 HUMSS students.

Taking a glance on the situation of Leyte National Highschool’s 11

HUMANISTA as they once again merged with the main campus learners and

environment, it’s truly a challenge to cope and adjust with the atmosphere of LNHS main

campus. Coming from a comfortable setting, their situation suddenly turned aback when

they left their previous campus. HUMSS students are currently staying at the back of the

gymnasium and to the previously assigned grade 11 faculty room, with no proper

ventilation and a mosquito infested area. Sections from grade 11 Biliran and Northern

Samar shared one classroom with long tables at the center to serve as their divider, does,

this not only compromise their learnings but also the safety of students, specially that

Humanities and Social Sciences requires a lot of classroom engagements such as public

speaking, role plays and other school related activities under designated subjects.

Shortage of public-school facilities in the Philippines is still an ongoing issue as it

continuously affects learners. The classroom shortage in the Philippines is pegged at

165,000. On top of this, some 189,000 school buildings are in need of either major or

minor repairs (DepEd, 2023; Inquirer. Net). This only shows that the percentage of

classroom shortage is larger than the available classrooms. Classroom shortage reduces

the quality of education and negatively affects not just the learning but also hinders

learners to engage and foster.

As DepEd and Leytean Group Heads are currently working on this issue, this

study aims to acknowledge students retort from the sudden relocation and outlook their

point of view on the movements of progress made by the school heads in solving the
issue. Students has to be assured, as their console comes first. Students’ grievance has to

be heard and expressed, and this issue of setting of Grade 11 HUMSS Students requires

immediate action.

Statement of the Problem

Regardless of the course of action that the DepEd is doing to improve the

educational infrastructure in the country, there are still some of the regions that is still

facing a critical shortage of classrooms. This shortage actually makes it harder for the

students to access a quality education that they deserve. Although there are many factors

that is actually contributing to this issue, there are still a lack of comprehensive research

that really digs deep to the underlying source and the potential solution to this issue. In

order to address this situation in terms of knowledge it is essential to develop effective

solution to elevate classroom shortage and also to improve the educational outcomes of

their future education.

Some of the possible questions that the researchers want to address were:

1. How does classroom shortage which leads to sudden relocation, affected the

learning and performance of the 11 HUMSS students of Leyte National High School?

2. How does the sudden relocation affects their everyday transportation?

3. Does this swift change of environment have an effect to their health?

4. How did they react to their unexpected change of campus at the midst of the

school year?

5. What impact does it have on their education and overall experience?

 6. Do they see their new environment convenient to their learning? And do the

students still prefer before or after the relocation?

Significance of the Study

Our research is significant for several reason, such that, this study tend to view

and extend consideration on the current classroom dilemma faced by Grade 11 HUMSS

students of Leyte National Highschool specifically the significance of having adequate

learning facilities, mainly on public schools. Viewing what are the best for students

within their perspective, with regards of their learning, comfort and primarily safety in

terms of school facilities and learning space without hankers, partiality and favors.

In addition, our study wanted to employ and suggest possible solutions to the

government (DepEd) to find effective mitigation to the issue. Pointing out what has to be

addressed.

To further elaborate these, our study is significant to:

Students. The major focus of this study is the standpoint of Grade 11 HUMSS student,

enabling them to raise awareness and be noticed. Moreover, this study how it impacted

their access to education, the quality of education they receive, their learning

environment, and their overall school experience.

Teachers. Although the study doesn't specifically emphasize the views of school

practitioners such as teachers, and the primary focus of addressing classroom shortages

may be on ensuring students have adequate learning spaces, it is also significant to

teachers because it directly affects their ability to teach effectively, it has impact on the

teaching-learning process and can impact various aspects of their professional lives.
Parents. The study also doesn't attend to target parents perspective, however, the study is

relevance to them by terms that Grade 11 HUMSS students are under 18 years old and

still under their parents custody. This study will help them acknowledge the situations of

their children in terms of finances and health being, as the issue directly impacted their

childrens.

Government (DepEd). The study is significant to the DepEd as it encompasses issues on

education affecting numerous amount of students nationwide, breaking their mission to

serve quality education to the filipino youths. This will serve as epiphany to what are the

needs and has to be improved in educational state of the Philippines.

Future researchers. This study also serve as a foundation for future researcher regarding

to classroom shortages specifically on the Philippines. This will guide the future

researchers to further understand the dillema, pressing problem in the field of education,

foster innovations and address a critical challenge facing education systems nationwide.

Hence, this study will raise awareness regarding to the classroom shortage and

relocation of the students that could affect their academic performance, physical being

and provide suggestions and alternative actions for this issue to be addressed. Although it

would be crucial for the students to provide their insights on the issue, their

confidentiality will remain irrevocable and all will be base by their statement alone.
Scope and Delimitation of the Study

Our study involves an in-depth assessment of the perspective and experiences of

Grade 11 students at Leyte National High School who are currently enrolled in the

Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand about the sudden classroom relocation.

All 7 sections of the said strand will be interviewed regarding the situation,

approximately 3-5 students will be interviewed per section making the total number of

respondents atleast 30 students. In addition, this study encompasses academic, health and

logistical consideration of each interviewed students including a number of variables,

such as how the new facilities might impact social dynamics, academic performance,

physical wellness, and general satisfaction of the students.

This study delimits other grade levels as well as other strands related in

academics, our study solely focuses on grade 11 HUMSS students who is currently

enrolled in Leyte National High School and is under the strand Humanities and Social

Sciences (HUMSS). In addition, the study limit its extent to a specific academic year

specifically School Year 2024, disregarding past events similar to the change of

campuses between the main and the Anibong campus.

Furthermore, the research may not explore the views of other stakeholders, such

as teachers, administrators, or parents, focusing its point exclusively on the students

viewpoint.