Assessment of Canteen Services of Core Gateway College Inc.

as Perceived by
Political Science student
Joanna T. Garcia 1, Jomer B. Ugali2, Ronald Allan P. Tambalque3, Cherry Ann M. Castro4, Rafael
DC. Del Rosario5
1
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Student, Core Gateway College Inc, SJC
2
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Student, Core Gateway College Inc, SJC
3
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Student, Core Gateway College Inc, SJC
4
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Student, Core Gateway College Inc, SJC
5
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Student, Core Gateway College Inc, SJC

Emails: ronaldambalque@gmail.com, rafaeldelrosario444@gmail.com, cherryanncastro628@gmail.com,

joannatorregarcia@gmail.com, ugalijomer@gmail.com

Abstract. This study aimed to evaluate the canteen services provided at Core Gateway College
from the perspective of Political Science student. This utilized the Descriptive research method
describe the Canteen Services of Core Gateway College Inc. A total of 100 students served as
respondents of this study. Data gathered were classified and analyzed. Percentage, frequency
count, standard deviation and mean were used. The following statistical techniques were used to
describe, analyze and interpret the data in the study. The research assessed various aspects of the
canteen services, such as food quality, pricing, cleanliness, and overall satisfaction. The findings
revealed that food variety, service quality, and price fairness had a significant impact on
students’ satisfaction. These results Indicated that a greater level of price fairness positively
influenced student satisfaction, As did a higher level of service quality, and food variety.
Findings emphasize the Importance of considering these factors in enhancing canteen services to
meet Students’ expectations and improve their overall canteen experience. Through the analysis
of the data collected, recommendations were formulated to enhance the canteen services at Core
Gateway College. suggestions include the quality and variety of food options, as well as the
affordability of meals and service quality. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into
the perceptions and experiences of Political Science students regarding the canteen services at
Core Gateway College. The findings can serve as a foundation for the school administration to
make informed decisions and implement changes that will positively impact the overall student
experience and satisfaction with the canteen services.

Keywords, Canteen Services, Student’s satisfaction, Recommendations and Suggestions.

Introduction

The school canteen is a place where students buy food and drinks to fill their hunger and thirst.
It is an important setting for nutrition and health promotion and prioritizes the implementation of
policies that support healthy eating habits in school. It is necessary to secure and consider the
nutrition of those students for them to stay active and have enough energy to fulfill their
everyday tasks. Recognizing the importance of eating the right kind of food can help students
improve their academic performance. Nutrition impacts brain development by giving you enough
energy and a sharp mind. There’s a lot of aspects of canteen services for the students to be
satisfied with, such as food quality, price, and staff behavior. Food quality can guarantee the
safety of consumers and safeguard them from the risks associated with contaminated foods. Price
influences the student’s food choice since their allowance is not enough for the high price, so it is
one of the aspects that they look for. Lastly, there is the staff behavior, because it can directly
affect the student’s satisfaction.

According to (Sigua, 2017) the Department of Education is responsible for giving and
supporting the student’s health and well-being through its curriculum. So, the canteen should
provide the nutritious food for the students for them to stay healthy, provide energy to keep
active throughout the day and to lower risk for the health problems. The canteen should provide
the students variety of food and dishes that enhance their skills and knowledge (DepEd Order
No. 8 of 2007). The students should have food choices so they can choose the food that is good
for their body and mind. Johannes (2013) discussed that school canteens should provide sanitary,
nutritious food such as bread, fresh drinks, fruits, and many more. Canteen personnel must be
required to undergo training for food handlers to ensure the safety of the customers.

There are common problem with school canteen services. First is food, The meals provided
by the canteen sometimes do not meet the proper nutrition standards and are not suitable for the
physical condition of the students. Second is price, it is too expensive for other students who
cannot afford it because of their insufficient allowance, so the high price discourages them from
choosing cheaper, less healthy options. Then the behavior of the staff, where there are times that
the approach of the staff is not proper, which can lead to not satisfying the students.

We thought of suggestions for the problem encountered in canteen services. For food, the
staff of the canteen should always consider the nutrition needs of the students to be attentive
because healthy eating can have a positive impact on their academic performance. About the
high price, we suggested that they should lessen the price so that it is suitable for the student’s
allowance. Last, the good performance of staff is necessary because sometimes the satisfaction
of students is based on how the staff treats them.

The researchers share each other’s experiences as students who buy food and drinks at the
canteen, and we can say that the staff are friendly and approachable, and the price matches the
quality of the food, which makes us more satisfied with their services.

Research Problem. This research aims to examine various aspects of canteen services of core
Gateway College Inc. Key areas of assessment such as food quality, pricing, cleanliness, variety
of food options and employee’s attitude. These problems offer valuable insights into improving
canteen services and enhancing students’ satisfaction.

Methods and Procedures

This study utilized Descriptive research design method. The respondents of this study are
the BAPS students of Core Gateway College INC. San Jose City Nueva Ecija. The researchers
made survey questionnaire that was used in gathering data. To describe, analyze, and interpret
the data in the study, frequency counts, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used in
this study.

Results and Discussions

Socio – Demographic Characteristics
This study showed that age 19-21 has the frequency of seventy three and a percentage of
seventy three. 22-24 has the frequency of twenty six and a percentage of twenty six. 25-27 has
the frequency of one and a percentage of one. In terms of Sex, Female has 55.3 percent and Male
has 44.7. For the Year Level, First year has the frequency of thirty nine and a percentage of thirty
nine. Second Year has the frequency of thirty one and a percentage of thirty one. Third Year, has
the frequency of sixteen and a percentage of sixteen. Fourth Year has the frequency of fourteen
and a percentage of fourteen. In terms of Weekly allowance 100-300 has the frequency of five
and a percentage of five. 301-500 has the frequency of forty three and a percentage of forty
three. 501-700 has the frequency of thirty eight and a percentage of thirty eight. 701-900 has the
frequency of nine and a percentage of nine. 901-1100 has the frequency of five and a percentage
of five.
Assessment of Canteen Services

Table presents the Assessment of Canteen Services among the respondents. Pooled mean
obtained was 3.25 described as strongly agree. This implies that the respondents strongly agreed
because they are satisfied with the overall services provided at the canteen.

Table 1. Assessment of Canteen Services

STATEMENT MEAN DESCRIPTION
1. I am satisfied with the overall quality of service
provided by the canteen staff 3.40 Strongly Agree
2. The canteen offers a wide variety of food
options to choose from 2.62 Agree
3. The prices of food items in the canteen is
reasonable. 2.63 Agree
4. All the food serves in the canteen are nutritious 3.22. Agree
5. The sanitation in preparing the food is maintained 3.46 Strongly Agree
6. The canteen provides clear and accurate
information regarding many items, priced and
ingredients 3.35 Strongly Agree
7. Employees are properly dressed in their uniform 3.50 Strongly Agree
8. The canteen is well organized and well managed 3.51 Strongly Agree
9. The canteen services is efficient and timely when
ordering food 3.19 Agree
10. The canteen staff are consistently friendly and
helpful 3.49 Strongly Agree
Pooled Mean 3.25 Strongly Agree
Scale: 3.25 – 4.00 Strongly Agree
2.50 – 3.24 Agree
1.75 – 2.49 Disagree
1.00 – 1.74 Strongly Disagree

The statement “The canteen is well organized and well managed” got the highest mean of
3.51 described as strongly agree which means the majority of students are contented and
appreciate the canteen services such as cleanliness, food quality and the staff behavior. The
statement “The canteen offers a wide variety of food options to choose from” got the lowest
mean of 2.62 described as agree which means students are not satisfied enough to the food that
offers in the canteen because they are lack of options.
This implies that majority are satisfied with the overall canteen services however they
should be given variety of food options.

Every canteen has the responsibility to provide the quality foods with proper service and
good hygiene practice to the customer (Galabo, 2019). So that the students would be satisfied to
their services. The canteen should provide the students variety of food and dishes that enhance
their skills and knowledge (DepEd Order No. 8 of 2007).

Table 2. Problem encounter by the respondents on the services provided at the canteen
STATEMENT FREQUENCY PERCENT
1. Overpriced 54 54.0
2. Lack of choices 12 12.0
3. Cleanliness/ Stray Cats 2 2.0
4. Staff Shortage 2 2.0
5. Orderliness 5 5.0
6. Slow Service 10 10.0
7. Food Quality 3 3.0
8. Employee Attitude 1 1.0
9. No Price Tag 1 1.0
10. No change for bills 2 2.0
11. None 8 8.0

TOTAL: 100 100

Table 2 shows that overpriced got the highest frequency of 54 which means it is the most
problem that students encounter in canteen services. Employee attitude and No price tag got the
lowest frequency of 1 which indicates that it is their least problem.

According to Klassen et al. (2005), the most important criterion that affects the
satisfaction of customer is price. The reasonable price as moderator of quality of food and
environment can increase or enhance customer satisfaction (Han and Ryu, 2010; Abdullah et al.,
2018; Lathifah et al., 2021).

Table 3. Recommendations
STATEMENT FREQUENCY PERCENT

1.Be budget friendly 43 43.0

2. More food choices
3. Pay attention to cleanliness
4. Increase staff
5. Pay attention to orderliness
6. Improve service quality
7. Improve service quality
8. Pay attention to Employee attitude
9. Put tag Price
10. Provide change for bill
18 18.0
4 4.0
10 10.0
2 2.0
4 2.0
8 8.0
8 8.0
1 1.0
2 2.0

The statement “Be budget friendly” got the highest frequency of 43 which means many
students of Political Science cannot afford foods and they also struggle to manage their money
because of the high price. The statement “More food choices “got second high frequency of 18,
meaning canteen needs to provide or offer more foods to the students to have more options and
to be a better canteen. This implies that majority of the respondents cannot afford the price of
food in canteen and they have lack of options to choose what they want.

According to Rama and Sarjono (2020), the price of the food was a significant factor in
determining student satisfaction and suggested that canteen operators should offer affordable
pricing to meet the expectations of their customers. The canteen should also provide a variety of
foods and dishes that enhance the skill and knowledge learnt in the classroom about food and
nutrition (Maniquiz, 2009).

Conclusions
In conclusion, the data from the survey provided valuable insights into the socio-
demographic characteristics, satisfaction levels, issues, and recommendations regarding the
canteen services. Notably, the majority of respondents were in the age range of 19-21, with most
of female students. While satisfaction with the overall quality of service, staff behavior and
efficiency of service was relatively high. Overpricing emerged as the most significant concern,
followed by complaints regarding the lack of food choices and slow service. Other issues, such
as cleanliness and staff shortages, were also mentioned but to a lesser extent. To address these
concerns, respondents overwhelmingly recommended being more budget-friendly and offering a
greater variety of food choices. Additionally, suggestions were made to focus on cleanliness,
increase staff, improve service quality, and address employee attitudes. Overall, the data
highlights the need for the canteen management to prioritize affordability, variety, and efficiency
in order to better meet the needs and expectations of the student population.
Recommendations

The survey results highlight several key recommendations to enhance the canteen services based
on the feedback of the respondents. The most prevalent suggestion, mentioned by 43% of
respondents, is to prioritize being more budget-friendly. This could involve reevaluating pricing
structures, introducing affordable meal options, or offering discounts to ensure accessibility for
all students. Additionally, expanding the variety of food choices, as suggested by 18% of
respondents, is crucial to cater to diverse preferences and dietary requirements. Furthermore,
attention should be directed towards improving cleanliness standards to maintain a hygienic
dining environment, addressing staff shortages by increasing staffing levels, and enhancing
overall service quality to ensure efficient and satisfactory customer experiences. Lastly,
addressing employee attitudes and behavior through training and support is essential to foster a
positive and welcoming atmosphere in the canteen. By implementing these recommendations,
the canteen can work towards providing a more enjoyable and fulfilling dining experience for its
patrons.

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