Socio-Economic Profile and Problems Encountered by Agriculture Students Recommendations for Enhancement of University Student Programs and Services
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Jun 27, 2025
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Abstract
In developing countries, students' educational challenges are often linked to their socio-economic status. Arising educational problems and the socio-economic profile of students may be useful information that could be used by academic institutions to improve their programs and services for students in need. This study aims to describe the socio-economic profile of Agriculture students in a state university and use the findings to enhance student programs and services. Data were collected from 349 Bachelor of Science in Agriculture students during the second semester of the academic year 2018–2019 using a descriptive-survey research design. Findings revealed that most of the respondents belonged to low-income families, though their parents generally owned land and lived in permanent houses with access to electricity for lighting and owned basic home appliances. They relied on community water systems or hand pumps, and motorcycles were the common vehicle used for mobility. Financial difficulties were the most common challenge, particularly a lack of funds for daily expenses and limited internet access. Students also faced difficulty of the subject and lessons, many assignments, long travel distances, and insufficient campus photocopying services. Based on these findings, recommendations were made to enhance the university’s programs and services to better support student needs.
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Thom-Otuya, B.E., & Inko-Tariah, D.C. (2016). Quality education for national development: The Nigerian experience. African Educational Research Journal, 4, 101-108. http://www.netjournals.org/z_AERJ_16_032.html
Usaini, M., & Abubakar, N. (2015). The impact of parents’ occupation on academic performance of secondary school students in Kuala Terengganu. Multilingual 607 Academic Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.6007/MAJESS/v3-i1/1899
Aklan State University. (n.d.). Student organizations. https://asu.edu.ph/online/studentorganizations/
American Psychological Association. (2009). APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://www.apa.org/topics/socioeconomic-status
Briones, R.M. (2017). Characterization of agricultural workers in the Philippines. https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps1731.pdf
Creswell, J.W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
Dubow, E.F., Huesmann, L.R., Boxer, P., Pulkkinen, L., & Kokko, K. (2009). Adult socioeconomic status attainment of youth who were aggressive or withdrawn in childhood. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 30(6): 620–631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2009.04.006
Elaurza, J. (2014). Socio-economic profile of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture second-year students for academic year 2013–2014. Unpublished undergraduate thesis. Aklan State University.
Ermisch, J. (2012). Residential mobility: wealth, demographic and housing market effects. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9485.2012.00591.x
Ferdiansyah, D., & Meutia, H. (2017). The impact of a student organization (OSIS) on Leadership Identity Development (LID). https://tampub.uta. fi/bitstream/handle/10024/102138/GRADU-1507563047.pdf?sequence=1
Gemici, S., Bednarz, A., Karmel, T., & Lim, P. (2014). The factors affecting the educationaland occupational aspirations of young Australians. https://www.ncver.edu.au/__data/assets/file/0021/9516/factors-affecting-aspirations2711.pdf
Gerhard, U., Hoelscher, M., & Marquardt, E. (2021). Knowledge society, educational attainment, and the unequal city: a sociospatial perspective. In: Freytag, T., Lauen, D.L., Robertson, S.L. (eds) Space, Place and Educational Settings. Knowledge and Space, 16. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78597-0_2
Gobena, G.A. (2018). Family socio-economic status effect on students’ academic achievement at College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Haramaya University, Eastern Ethiopia. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, 7(3): 207–222. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/jtee/issue/43443/530195
Guillen, M.D., & Ishidam H. (2014). Motorcyclepropelled public transport and local policy development: the case of “tricycles” and “habalhabal” in Davao City Philippines. International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences, 28(1): 56–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0386-1112(14)60092-3
Hilario, C.R. (2000). The employability of the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture graduates of Aklan State College of Agriculture from school year 1988-1989 to school year 19971998. Unpublished dissertation. Aklan State College of Agriculture.
Hossain, F., & Ali, M. (2014) Relation between individual and society. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2, 130-137. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2014.28019.
Hulme, D. (2015) Higher quality education for national development. https://www.effectivestates.org/high-quality-education-for-national-development/
Islam, S. (2015). Socio-Economic Profile of the Students of University of Dhaka. Published Research Monograph. University of Bangladesh. Bangladesh.
Kwok-Tung, T., Chi-Kin J.L., King-Fai S.H., Wai-Sun, D.C., & Nim-Chi K.C. (2019). Academic and career aspiration and destinations: a Hongkong perspective on adolescent transition. Education Research International. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3421953
Lazzara, J. (n.d.) ifespan development. Pressbooks. https://open.maricopa.edu/devpsych/chapter/chapter-8-emerging-adulthood/
Memon, G., Joubish, M., & Khurram, M. (2010). Impact of parental socio-economic status on students’ educational achievements at secondary schools of District Malir, Karachi. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research. https://pdfs. semanticscholar.org
Mukisu, D., & Kiptala, W. (2022). The relationship between students’ career aspirations and their academic performance among secondary school students in Bungoma South Subcounty, Kenya. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 6(2). https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-6-issue2/379-383.pdf
Munsey, C. (2006). Emerging adults: the in-between age. American Psychological Association, 37(7), 68. https://www.apa.org/monitor/jun06/emerging
National Statistics Office. (2014). NSO Monthly Bulletin of Statistics. https://psa.gov.ph/content/monthly-bulletin-statisticsmbs-march-2014
National Economic Development Association. (2018). Accelerating Human Capital Development. https://.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/SER-chapter10pdf
Nelson, J.K. (2009). Impact of Parent Education on Student Success. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Impact-of-Parent-Education-onStudentSuccess.-Nelson/9ba0c95a9bea268fe0336933e84c4bf058d5057f
Payba, C. (2014). The Socio-Economic Status of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Third Year Students. Unpublished undergraduate thesis. Aklan State University.
Penn State University. (2020). Parents’ educational levels influence on child education outcomes: rapid literature review. https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2020/01/ParentsEducational-Levels-Influence-on-Child-Educational-Outcomes.20Jan06.final_.pdf
Philippine Institute for Development Studies. (2013). Higher education in agriculture: trends, prospects, and policy directions. https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsbk14afnr.pdf
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2010). Characteristics of poor families in the Philippines (findings from the 2008 annual poverty indicators survey). https://psa.gov.ph/content/characteristics-poor-families-philippines-findings-2008annual-poverty-indicators-survey
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2015). Characterization of Agricultural Workers in the Philippines: 2012 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF). Manila, Philippines: Author. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachments/hsd/pressrelease/Characterization%20of%20Agricultural%20Workers%20in%20the%20Philippines.pdf
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2018). National Poverty Threshold.
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2019). 2019 Philippine marriage statistics. https://psa.gov. ph/content/2019-philippine-marriage-statistics
Starkey, P. (2016). The benefits and challenges of increasing motorcycle use for rural access. International Conference on Transport and Road Research 2016. https://www.research4cap.org/ral/Starkey-ReCAPPMU_2016_
Sumanga, M. (2009). Professional achievements and emotional competence of bachelor of science in agriculture graduates of Aklan State University. Unpublished dissertation. Aklan State University.
Thom-Otuya, B.E., & Inko-Tariah, D.C. (2016). Quality education for national development: The Nigerian experience. African Educational Research Journal, 4, 101-108. http://www.netjournals.org/z_AERJ_16_032.html
Usaini, M., & Abubakar, N. (2015). The impact of parents’ occupation on academic performance of secondary school students in Kuala Terengganu. Multilingual 607 Academic Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.6007/MAJESS/v3-i1/1899