Chapter I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Rationale

Overcrowded population in the classroom is one of the biggest issues in

schools today. A lack of fund to build enough classrooms can create a nearly

impossible problem to fix and lead to many problems in the long run. Class sizes

should only be 15 to 20 students in each classroom but due to the lack of rooms,

it resulted to reach more that 40 students in a single class. Overcrowded

classrooms bring forth numerous and detrimental effects to the classroom, the

students, and the school. This problem diminishes the quality and quantity of

teaching and learning with serious implication for attainment of education goals.

An estimated 21 million children are enrolled in a public school system that faces

difficulties in providing sufficient classrooms for the students under care. Reports

in Metro Manila stated that 82 percent of the 764 public schools in the metropolis

were congested, and were conducting classes in two shifts for the morning and

afternoon classes. Despite the shortage of space for many students at public

schools in the Philippines, the DepEd had never attempted to purchase land for

new school sites for several reasons.

In the cities of Cebu, some schools had to divide their class schedules into

three shifts to accommodate the enrollees. The DepEd said 3,102 classrooms
had been remarked to be built in some parts of the region 7 but 1600 is still on

going and still facing the said problem. The shortage of classroom and over

population can greatly cause an impact to the behavior and disturbance to the

students and teachers involved.

According to the researcher Dr. P Aligulo (2009) which studied about the

impact of over crowded population in a classroom to the students and the

teacher and aimed to find a solution to this unending problem. With this, J

Magarure (2010) also studied about the academic performance of the students

considering the problem with the lack of classroom and environment that

surrounds them.

Naga National High School is decided to be focused as a scope for this

school is also facing much problem in overcrowded classroom. The school is

holding more than 5000 students with no enough classroom that pushes them to

divide the classes into two shifts but still not enough for all the students. As a

movement, the school is continuously seeking for sponsorship from different

companies in the city of Naga that will help in building more classrooms. The

school also is planning to rebuild the old classroom into a bigger and more

spacious to reach the goal of accommodating enough classroom to all the

students.

Therefore this study will be conducted to further know the effects of having

an overcrowded classroom on students. This will help in making the society,

especially authorized people in the education department, understand more that

there are certain effects, whether good or bad, of not having a proper

environment for the students' learning. This will hopefully help them realize that

actions can be made immediately to not deepen the effects of it on the current

and future learners of the country.

THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND

This study follows both the legal bases of the Philippine education under

one of its academic agencies, the Department of Education, and the theories of

education accumulated through years of academic work and study.

One of the legal bases, R.A No. 9155 or the Governance of Basic Education Act

of 2001 declares the policy to protect and promote the right of all citizens to

quality basic education and to make such education accessible to all by providing

all Filipino children a free and compulsory education in all grade levels. It shall be

the goal of basic education to provide them with the skills, knowledge and values

they need to become caring, self-reliant, productive and patriotic citizens.

One of the main factors to consider in making the accessibility of basic education

for all be realized is to look into the physical learning environment where teaching

and learning takes place. “ An improved physical learning environment in the

classroom and the school will help contribute to the attainment of the goal of

quality basic education for all” ( Former Sec. Jesli Lapus, 2010). To attain such

goal is to cater basic education with an atmosphere conducive for learning and

development which in turn attracts and encourages learners to avail of such

education.

“ Pupil development in the modern schools is greatly affected not only by the

nature and quality of instruction but also by the environment; the school and the

community can provide ( Franseth; 1961, p.126). The physical and the social

environment where the learners are immersed may grealty influence their total
Theoretical Framework

This section proposes a conceptual framework of the study which shows

the relationship existing between variables. The model shows the dependent

variables which is academic performances and independent variables are

overcrowded classrooms and population growth of Naga National High School

which leads to the overcrowded of the classes. The intermediate variables which

are availability of teachers, quality instruction in classroom, teaching resources,

laboratories and laboratory materials.

Dependent Variable Independent Variables

Population growth

Academic Performances Overcrowded classrooms

Intermediate Variables

Availability of teachers

Quality instruction in classroom

Teaching Resources

Laboratories and Laboratory Materials

personality and learning development. Teachers encountered daily by the

learners may affect student attendance, school facilities available in schools may

motivate or dissuade them to attend classes too. Students will more likely to

learn and stay in a welcoming and comfortable environment, which could be

provided through these facilities. “ The teacher must understand some of the

environmental factors available to her to create learning experiences for the

students”( Clayton;1963, p. 26). To create and enrich such learning experiences

is to aid and support the teachers and the schools as well with the necessary

facilities.

Section 1.3 of R.A No. 9155 is encouraging local initiatives for the

improvement of schools and learning centers and to provide the means by which

these standards may be achieved and sustained and to establish schools and

learning centers, and other school facilities where students are able to range a

core competencies prescribed for all level’s program are provided alternative

learning programs and receive accreditation at least the equivalent of a K-12

program.

To support, realize and mobilize the educational aims and programs under

R.A No. 9155, R.A 10352 or the General Appropriations Act Fiscal Year 2013

includes the Department of Education in the appropriation of the annual national

budget. The Department of Education gets one of the biggest shares of the 2013

P2.006 trillion national budget. Many Filipinos are constantly hoping and

expecting that of the presented figures, reports and plans, the problems on

educational facilities over the years will soon finally be addressed and resolved.
 This study also follows one of the theories in education, the Experience

Thoery of Learning, which is supported by Comenius, Rousseau, Montessori and

Dewey, strongly proposed that the true foundation of true education is in

experiencing. Hence, they believe that experience is the best teacher. “Direct or

vicarious experiences ensure development of understanding and a rich

environment for learning. These experiences can be provided and furnished

through planned activities and the use of materials and equipment at hand in

schools” ( Kinder; 1960,224).

Learning results from synergetic transactions between the person and the

environment. Stable and enduring patterns of human learning arise from

consistent patterns of transaction between the individual and his or her

environment. The way a person processes the possibilities of each new

experience determines the range of choices and decisions he or she sees. The

concept of learning space elaborates further the holistic, dynamic nature of

learning style and its formation through transactions between the person and

environment ( Kolb and Kolb;2007, pp. 4-5).

These theories explain how the interaction of man and the environment work

together to influence learning. A person’s experiences from his environment

create in him the ability to adapt, adjust or withdraw, to encourage or discourage

responses. This environment includes the physical environment where the

person is exposed to and interacts with. Thus a person learns to draw choices

and decisions from these experiences.

 Considering the invaluable importance and necessity of school facilities, as

supported by many education experts and propellers, associated to teaching and

learning many schools all over the country still faces the magnitude of the

problem of inadequacy of physical plant and facilities and the limited financial

resources of the government. It is a burden on the part of the school heads,

classroom teachers and most especially to the students who face the problem

and carry the burden daily, hence they immersed in the physical environment of

the school every day. School heads with the school property custodian are

required to conduct an annual inventory on school plant and facilities in their

respective schools in order to diagnose and report on what is available or

sufficient and or what is unavailable or insufficient so to make appropriate

requests or proposals for instructional material needs based on the current

standards for their schools. From these reports, the Department of Education

could have a clear idea of the needs of every school in the country forming the

basis for allocation. Thus, there would be an equitable distribution of instructional

materials and equipment including classrooms, workshops and other school

needs and amenities. The school heads are encouragd to take initiatives in

providing their schools with the necessary facilities from income-generating

projects of the schools and from civic – spirited citizens in the community or from

private entities. Classroom teachers as well are encouraged to avail to some

alternatives that will address the problem in the classroom setting. It should also

be an ultimate goal of the organization to eradicate this century – old problem in

order to optimize the realization of the millenium goal, education for all which
does not only focuses on the learning content but also on other factors such as

the physical environment which may affect such learning of the recipients – the

learners. The physical environment which involves physical facilities should cater

to its purpose and the needs of the learners. They should be made adequate,

available and functional to serve the purpose and to answer the demands.
Statement of the Problem

Grade 11 STEM A students in Naga National High School need the perfect, quiet

place to

study at in order for them to learn in comfort. But because the school lacks classrooms,

at least 40 students have to stay in one small space which makes the room crowded.

This study about its effects in the students' learning ought to answer the following

questions:

a.) Will the majority of the class be able to focus their attention to the discussion in the

whole duration of the study?

b.) Will there be any difficulties in the performances of the students during class

activities?

c.) What other effects of having an overcrowded classroom will be observed and found

out during and after conducting this study?

Scope and Delimitation

The researchers will only observe the Grade 11 STEM A students of Naga

National High School. Other students who belong to the same school and same

grade level will not be included in the variables picked for the study.

Significance of the Study

Crowded classrooms due to the lack of it in Naga National High School is a big

potential threat to the learning experiences of the Grade 11 STEM A students. It may

result to an outcome that can be negatively different to what students staying in proper
and spacious rooms give. These said outcomes are ought to be discovered and

observed for the higher authorities to take actions and for the students to prevent.
Definition of Terms

accessible - able to be reached or entered

additive – of, relating to, or characterized by addition

capability - the power or ability to do something

conceptual- tells about what your constructs are by explaining how they are

related to other constructs

detrimental- can possibly cause harm

diminishes- means becoming smaller and smaller

intermediate- coming between two things in time, place, order or character

implementation- the process of putting a decision or plan into effect; execute

overcrowded- containing too many people or things

questionnaire- a set of printed or written questions with a choice of answers,

devised for the purposes of a survey or statistical study

respondents- a person who replies to something, especially one supplying

information for a survey or questionnaire or responding to an advertisement

survey- a set of printed or written questions with a choice of answers, devised for

the purposes of a survey or statistical study

spacious- describes a living quarter that has plenty of space

theoretical- concerned with or involving the theory of a subject or area of study

rather than its practical application.

utilize – make practical and effective use of.

 Chapter II

Review of Related Literatures and Studies

The Impact of Class Size and Number of Students on Outcomes in Higher

Education

Numerous studies have investigated the impact of class size on student

outcomes. This analysis contributes to this discussion by examining the impact of

class size on student outcomes in higher education. Additionally, this paper

investigates the importance of student load (total number of students taught

across all courses) in educational outcomes. We find that both class size and

student load negatively impact student assessments of courses and instructors.

Large classes and heavy student loads appear to prompt faculty to alter their

courses in ways deleterious to students. (J. Magaruera,2010)

Advantages of Classroom Learning

A classroom environment offers students the opportunity to have face-to-

face interactions with their peers and instructors. This is an added social benefit

as well as an educational aid. Because students see the same peers in class

every session, they get a chance to form friendships. In the case of higher

learning, pupils can find potential lifelong professional connections. On the

educational side, students get a chance to participate in a lecture or class

discussion physically. If students don't understand something, they can always

ask the instructor for clarification is always an option. (S. Hendricks,2011)

The impact of over-crowded classrooms to teachers and students

Researchers aimed at investigating the impact of classroom over

crowdedness on teacher- student interactions in teaching and learning process

and specifically identify the problems both teachers and students face in over-

crowded classrooms and identify solutions to the problems and finally determine

the relationship between over-crowded classrooms and teacher-student

Interaction in learning and teaching process. The researcher used questionnaires

to collect data where the findings came up with the facts that noise making,

failure to attend each student’s need, restriction of teachers movement in the

class, cheating in exams, wastage of time setting orders in class, difficulty in

marking, and both teachers and students being stressed are the impacts

resulting from over crowdedness in classrooms. (P. Aligulo,2009)

Overcrowded classroom: A serious problem for teachers

The condition of Government schools all over the country and quality of

education being imparted, are going from bad to worse, day by day. Government

and the concerned Education Department have no check and balance over

quality of education. Government schools are overcrowded because of increased

population, due to limitation of the economic resources and budget constraints.

Due to these reasons, it raises the problem of overcrowding in classrooms. With

the passage of time it becomes one of the major problems of our education

system.
 The average number of students in most of classrooms ranges from 70 to

120. It creates many problems for both, teachers and students in teaching-

learning process. A number of researches have been done in order to know the

effects of overcrowded classes on students’ achievement but less attention has

been given to identify the problems faced by teachers in over-crowded classes.

So the researcher decided to deal this problem in a different way and try to find

out the problems faced by teachers. (P. Karveen,2010)

Overcrowded classrooms through the eyes of student teachers

The effects of overcrowded classrooms are far-reaching for teachers and

learners. Many parents base their decision on whether to send their child to a

particular school on the prospective number of learners in the child’s classroom.

All teacher training institutions ought to ascertain whether they offer appropriate

teacher training programs that will enable student teachers to deal with the

numerous demands associated with the teaching profession, among others,

teaching in overcrowded classrooms. The aim of the research reflected in this

article was to explore student teachers’ challenges when teaching in

overcrowded classrooms. An exploratory research design and qualitative

research approach was chosen as the appropriate methodology for this project.

Data was collected by means of a non-compulsory written assignment set out in

student teachers’ teaching practice workbooks. The theoretical frameworks used

constructivist learning theory and socio-constructivist learning theory. The

research revealed that numerous problems were experienced by student

teachers, who were teaching in overcrowded classrooms. Guiding principles

regarding support from lecturers, significant observation and the responsible

engagement of mentor teachers are suggested. (P. Mismol,2012)

Consequences of overcrowded classroom on the implementation of UBE

objectives

Purposive sampling technique was used to select one hundred and thirty

eight (138) primary school teachers used for the study. The data collected were

analyzed using frequency count and percentages. Results of the investigation

showed that close to 60% of primary school teachers in Ilorin metropolis faces

the problem of large class size is over population in their classes. The

investigation also revealed several problems being faced by teachers who teach

over crowed classes. This ugly situation reflects the lukewarm attitude of the

government towards the promotion of qualitative Education. Recommendation

were made on the need for the government to provide more modern classrooms

for schools and also repair the dilapidated ones in order to allow for the

successful attainment of the UBE objectives at the primary school level. (H.

Molagun,2010)

Cooperation makes it happen: Imagined intergroup cooperation enhances

the positive effects of imagined contact

Imagined intergroup contact represents a new indirect contact strategy to

reduce intergroup bias. Extending the literature on imagined contact, we tested

whether the inclusion of cooperation into the imagination task would outperform

the standard imagined contact scenarios used in previous research. 87

participants were instructed to imagine a neutral versus a positive versus a

cooperative interaction with an out-group member. As predicted, after imagining

a cooperative intergroup interaction, participants showed more empathy and trust

toward the out-group than participants in the remaining experimental conditions.

Furthermore, they also reported reduced prejudice and intergroup anxiety. Taken

together, implementing cooperation in the imagined contact paradigm reduced

intergroup bias, above and beyond basic imagined contact effects. Finally, the

perceived quality of the imagined interaction with an out-group member mediated

the experimental effects. Theoretical and practical implications of these novel

findings will be discussed. (D. Kietra et al.,2010)

Problems Faced by Students and Teachers in the Management of

Overcrowded Classes in Pakistan.

The present study aimed at investigating the problems faced by teachers

and students in the management of overcrowded classrooms in female public

sector schools in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The design of study was descriptive.

Population consisted of teachers and students of four female public sector

schools of Rawalpindi cantt. Sample was taken from 9 th class which consisted of

120 students and 36 teachers. Questionnaire survey was used to collect data.

Items of the questionnaire were developed on the basis of the problems of

overcrowding in the classrooms and the strategies used by the teachers to

overcome this situation. Rank-difference correlation coefficient.(Spearman rho)

was used to rank the problems of over-crowded classes and the strategies used

by the teachers to cope with those problems. The result of the study showed that
there was much agreement between the views of students and teachers on the

issue. According to the study conclusions, the main thing that place limitation on

the interaction between students and teachers as well as on the quality of

teaching and learning is seating arrangement. It is recommended that new

classrooms be built as well as more teachers be employed in public sector

secondary schools. To cope with the problem of overcrowded classes, teachers

are suggested to establish routines and conventions in class activities right from

the beginning of the year. Adequate planning and implementation of lessons can

also be useful for this purpose. (S. Akhtar et al.,2012)

An Overview on Classrooms’ Academic Performance Considering: Non-

Properly Prepared Instructors, Noisy Learning Environment, and

Overcrowded Classes

It considers an interdisciplinary challenging educational phenomenon

associated to students’ academic performance at educational field practice

(classrooms). By more details, it presents specifically an educational study

regarding with three challenging phenomenal problems observed in classrooms.

Firstly, problem faced by teachers’ relation to accessible classroom activity. Such

as the relation between value of learning rate parameter η and the Gaussian

additive noise power σ to learning data submitted by a non-properly prepared

instructor. Secondly, noisy data which considered as main cause of

environmental annoyance and it negatively affects the quality of academic

performance. That presented problem motivated by “Evans’ research reveals

significant reading delays for children living near airports and exposed to airport
noise”. Finally, the problem deals with an auditory perception phenomenon,

namely known as Cocktail Party Problem (CPP). This process practically

experienced by the presence of overcrowded classroom noisy phenomenon

considering only one speaker (instructor’s speech). (H. Massam,2011)

Effect of cooperative instructional strategy on students’ performance in

social studies

Abstract purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cooperative

instructional strategy on junior secondary school students’ performance in social

studies, in Ilorin. Nigeria a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent pre-test, post-test,

control group design using a 2* 2* 3 factorial design was adopted for the study

The subjects included all the third year students from two purposively selected

secondary schools in ilorin West Local government Area of Kwara State. The

treatment and control groups were made up of 48 and 45 students respectively.

The selected secondary schools were randomly assigned 10 treatment and

control groups. The post text scores were subjected to Analysis of covariance

(ANCOVA) to test the hypotheses generated for the study. The findings showed

that the students taught using Cooperative Instructional strategy (COOPIS)

performed significantly better than their counterparts taught using the

conventional Instruction Strategy (CIS). Based on these findings, it was

recommended among others, that teachers of social studies should expose their

students to cooperative instructional strategy, us this will promote social

interaction, active engagement in learning, learning by experience and self-

motivation in social studies. (A. Yusuf,2010)

 Chapter III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the research methodology, environment,

respondents, instruments, and procedure utilized by the researchers during the

entire span of their study.

The researchers will use the survey method which will determine

whether there are negative or positive effects of having a crowded room on the

students. Through a questionnaire, data will be collected.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The study will be a survey research as it will gather and collect data

through the personal opinions and thoughts of the respondents.

RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT

The study will be conducted in Naga National High School at Brgy. West

Poblacion, City of Naga, Cebu. The classrooms are placed evenly at the lower

ground and upper ground of the school. The number of students from Grade 7 to

Grade 12 that are studying in the school varies.

RESEARCH RESPONDENTS

The study will consist of 42 respondents, specifically the students of

Grade 11 STEM A who are the current occupants of the third classroom of the

building in front of the EIM building.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS

The researchers will be using a questionnaire regarding the students'

behavior and performance during class hours. The questionnaire that will be

used in the study will be personally made by the researchers. This will help in

gathering data that will satisfy the problems that are to be solved in the study.

An interview guide will be used as a form of data collection instrument. This will

be used in collecting information regarding other effects that the students

personally noticed and experience when having a class discussion in an

overcrowded room.

RESEARCH PROCEDURES, DATA GATHERING, AND TREATMENT

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

The researchers will submit a letter of permission to the adviser of the

Grade 11 STEM A students which will be the respondents of the said study.

Once the permission will be approved, the respondents' consent to be observed

and to answer the survey will be asked. After the consent will be given, the

researchers will observe and take note of the behavior and performance of the

respondents during one to two discussions. The survey questionnaires will then

be distributed for each of them to answer. A short interview will be conducted to

collect more information that the researchers might miss in mentioning in the

questionnaire. The answered questionnaires will then be collected.

DATA ANALYSIS

The data gathered and collected will be interpreted and analyzed. The

researchers' goal in this study is to know the effects in the students' learning

experiences when they have an overcrowded classroom. The results of their

answers in the questionnaires will determine whether majority of the students

were able to focus and concentrate in the duration of the discussion or not, by

comparing their answers and by the observations of the researchers during

class. It will also determine whether students had difficulties in performing their

tasks. Aside from the possible results mentioned, any other negative or positive

effects of having an overcrowded room will be found out through analyzing the

interview answers of the respondents regarding their own opinions and thoughts

about their environment during class.