ASSESSMENT OF THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN THE FINANCIAL

ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING OF FRESHMEN ACCOUNTANCY STUDENTS IN

ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

LILIAN M. ENCLONAR
MAE G. LAGLIVA
DIETHER ALLEN L. YNION

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTANCY

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Accounting Research (Acc 423) subject
for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Accountancy Department,
College of Business, Development Economics and Management, University of Southern
Mindanao, Kabacan, Cotabato
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

One of the major reforms in the Philippines is the implementation of the Republic

Act No. 10533 also known as Enhanced Basic Education Act. This act aims to improve

the Philippine educational system in order to be at par with the international standards.

Through education input and curriculum reform, it emphasizes the value of a “holistically

developed Filipino”. Preparation for higher education, eligibility for entering domestic

and overseas educational institution and immediate employability are the major points in

this new program.

K-12 program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education. These 12

years is divided into 6 years of elementary education, 6 years of secondary education (4

years of Junior High and 2 years of Senior High). The biggest change of this program is

the addition of Senior High School. Two years of specialized education is added in

which students may choose which specialization they prefer. The composition of SHS

subjects falls under either Core Curriculum or Specific Tracks. Language, Humanities,

Communication, Mathematics, Philosophy, Science, Social Science and Physical

Education and Health are the 8 learning areas that constitute the core curriculum while

the 4 specific tracks are (1) Academic, (2) Technical-Vocational-Livelihood, (3) Sports

and Arts and (4) General Education or Liberal Arts. Each track has strands, which is

also known as specializations within a track.

 The academic track includes 3 strands (1) Accountancy, Business, and

Management (ABM), (2) Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) and (3) Science,

Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and (4) General Academic Strand

(GAS).Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) concentrates on the

foundational concepts in corporate operations, financial management, business

management and as well as other factors that revolve around these fields. Humanities

and Social Sciences (HUMSS) focuses on the investigation and inquiry of the human

conditions that uses empirical, analytical and critical methods of studying human

behavior and societal changes. Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics

(STEM) focuses on the application and integration of scientific, technological,

engineering and mathematical concepts in the evaluation of simple to complex societal

problems and its solution formulation. General Academic Strand (GAS) this strand was

designed purposely for students who are still indecisive of what course they want to

pursue in college.

The pioneering graduates of senior high school graduated last March 2018 and

enrolled in college for the academic year 2018-2019. According to the CHED

Memorandum Order No. 105 series of 2017 all grade 12 graduates beginning the

academic year 2017-2018 are eligible to enter college regardless of the track or strand

taken in Senior High School.

Because of the said policy, the study aims to compare the performance of the

freshmen students enrolled in the Accountancy program of the University Of Southern

Mindanao. The basis of the comparison will be their pre-test scores and 1st semester

final grades in the Financial Accounting and Reporting subject, and the relevance of
different categories such as their strand, type of school attended during senior

highschool, sex, family’s socio-economic status in terms of the income of their parents

or guardians and of the type of community where they belong.

Statement of the problem

In general, the study will concentrate on the assessment of the academic

performance of freshmen Accountancy students currently enrolled in the University of

Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, Cotabato.

Specifically, the study is designed to find answers for the following questions:

1. What are the socio-demographic characteristics of the freshmen Accountancy

students of the University of Southern Mindanao?

2. What is the standing of the over-all academic performance of the freshmen

accountancy students based on their results in their Pre-Test administered by

the Accountancy Department?

3. What is the standing of the over-all academic performance of the freshmen

accountancy students based on their Final Grade in their major Accounting

subject, the Financial Accounting and Reporting?

4. What is the degree of relationship of academic performances of the freshmen

Accountancy students and from what strand they belonged to when they were

in Senior High School?

 5. What is the degree of relationship of academic performances of the freshmen

Accountancy students and from what type of school (e.g Private school or

Public school) they attended during Senior High School?

6. What is the degree of relationship of academic performances of the freshmen

Accountancy students and their sex?

7. What is the degree of relationship of academic performances of the freshmen

Accountancy students and their family’s socio-economic status specifically

based on the income of their parents or guardians and the type of community

(e.g Urban or Rural) they are situated?

Objectives of the study

The general objective of the study is to assess the academic performance of

freshmen Accountancy students enrolled in the University of Southern Mindanao.

Specifically, the study aims to:

1. Determine the socio-demographic characteristics of the Accountancy

freshmen students of the USM.

2. Determine the Accountancy freshmen students' academic performance in FAR

subject based on their pre-test results administered by the Accountancy Department

and their final grades.

 3. Determine the degree of relationship between the academic performance of

freshmen Accountancy students and the strand they belonged to when they were in

Senior High School.

4. Determine the degree of relationship between the academic performance of

freshmen Accountancy students and the type of school (e.g Private school or Public

school) they attended during Senior High School.

5. Determine the degree of relationship between the academic performance of

freshmen Accountancy students and their sex.

6. Determine the degree of relationship between the academic performance of

freshmen Accountancy students and their family’s socio-economic status specifically

based on the income of their parents or guardians and the type of community (e.g

Urban or Rural) they are situated.

Significance of the study

The significance of the study would be addressed to the high school students,

senior high school students, USM policy-makers, USM Accountancy Department and

the researchers.

As to the high school students, they would be able to appropriately choose the

track and strand they will take as they moved up to Senior High School, that will prepare

them for subject specialization of the college course they will take in the future. The high
school students will also be able to check if what and if there are schools near them

offering their chosen track and strand.

As to the senior high school students, this study would be able to help them

assess how their chosen strand might affect their academic performance on the course

they would like to take in college. The senior high school students will also be able to

properly decide on what specific course they will be taking, considering the strand they

have enrolled to.

As to the USM policy-makers, the results of this study will help them formulate

admission policies to be implemented in the succeeding batches of freshmen, who are

under the K-12 curriculum. In line with this, the USM policy-makers will also be able to

strengthen their stand in providing relevant and quality education to every student that

will be admitted in the school.

As to the USM Accountancy Department, they would have an idea on how to

deal with the admitted freshmen in the program, on what to expect during the early

phase of the class and on what teaching strategies will be appropriate considering the

students’ qualifications. The accounting teachers will be able to evaluate the

performances of the students with the lessons and the exam they have taken under

their supervision.

Finally, as to the researchers, they would be able to satisfy their curiosity about

the academic performances of the freshmen accountancy students, specifically in their

Financial Accounting and Reporting Pre-Test Result and Final Grade, considering

factors such as the student’s strand, type of school attended during senior high school,
sex, family’s socio-economic status in terms of the income of their parents or guardians

and of the type of community where they belong.

Scope and limitation of the study

The study is designed and will be conducted only to assess the academic

performances of the freshmen accountancy student enrolled in the Accountancy

program in the University of Southern Mindanao , specifically in their Financial

Accounting and Reporting Pre-Test Result and Final Grade, considering factors such as

the student’s strand, type of school attended during senior high school, gender, socio-

economic status in terms of the income of their parents or guardians and of the type of

community where they belong.

The respondents of the study will be the freshmen Accountancy students

originally enrolled in the first semester, have taken the Financial Accounting and

Reporting subject and have themselves re-enrolled for the second semester in the said

school.

The study will be conducted starting April up to May 2019. It will be held in

University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, Cotabato.

Operational definition of terms

Academic Performance - used to describe the academic achievement of students in

K-12 institutions, and is usually measured by the traditional standardized
assessment methods preferred in K-12 such as percentage of marks obtained
by students in quizzes, tests and examinations.
ABM Strand - one of the programs offered by the K to 12 Program under the Academic
Track and would focus on the basic concepts on all things that are accounted
for.
Financial Accounting and Reporting - is an introductory course in accounting that will
develop student’s appreciation of accounting as a language of business and
an understanding of basic accounting concepts and principles that will help
them analyse business transactions.
GAS Strand – one of the programs offered by the K to 12 Program under the Academic
Track and this is for students who are still undecided on which track to take.
HUMSS Strand - one of the programs offered by the K to 12 Program under the
Academic Track and this is for those who are considering taking up social
science-related courses in college.
K to 12 Program – the most recently implemented basic education curriculum signed
into a law by the former President Benigno Aquino III through Republic Act No.
10533. The Filipino students are required to undergo one (1) year in
kindergarten, six (6) years in primary school, four (4) years in junior high school
and two (2) years in senior high school.
Sex- refers to a person’s biological status and typically categorized as male or female.
Socio Economic Status – the social standing or class of an individual or group. It is
often measured as a combination of education, income and occupation.
STEM Strand - one of the programs offered by the K to 12 Program under the
Academic Track and is focus on advanced concepts and topics in the Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
TVL Track - one of the tracks offered by the K to 12 Program and will equip interested
students with job-ready skills in the future.
List of Acronyms

ABM - Accountancy, Business and Management Strand

FAR – Financial Accounting and Reporting

GAS - General Academic Strand

HUMMS - Humanities and Social Sciences Strand

SHS - Senior High School

STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

TVL - Technical-Vocational-Livelihood

USM – University of Southern Mindanao

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a context and to justify the purpose and

significance of this research. This chapter includes related literatures regarding the

factors that could affect academic performances of freshmen accountancy students. It

also has the conceptual framework to fully understand the research to be conducted.

The K to 12 Program

The Fundamentals of Accounting and Reporting 1

The Fundamentals of Accounting and Reporting 1, one of the ABM

specialized subjects suggested by the Department of Education, is an introductory

course in accounting, business, and management data analysis that will develop

student’s appreciation of accounting as a language of business and an understanding of

basic accounting concepts and principles that will help them analyze business

transactions. The contents of this course are as follows:

(http://www.deped.gov.ph/sites/default/files/ABM_Fundamentals%20of%20ABM%201%

20CG.pdf)
1. Introduction to Accounting;

2. Branches of Accounting;

3. Users of Accounting Information;

4. Forms of Business Organizations;

5. Types of Business According to Activities;

6. Accounting Concepts and Principles;

7. The Accounting Equation;

8. Types of Major Accounts;

9. Books of Accounts;

10. Business Transactions and their Analysis as Applied to the Accounting Cycle

of a Service Business

a. Adjusting entries

b. Adjusted Trial Balance

c. Preparation of Basic Financial Statements

d. Preparation of a Trial Balance;

11. Business Transactions and their Analysis as Applied to the Accounting Cycle

of a Service Business

a. Adjusting Entries

b. Adjusted Trial Balance

c. Preparation of Basic Financial Statements; and

12. Accounting Cycle of a Merchandising Business.

 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the research design and the methods to be utilized in data

gathering, the research locale and respondents of the study. It also includes the

research instrument to be used for data gathering as well as the method of data

analysis.

Research Design

The researchers will be using a comparative quantitative design for this research.

Comparative research essentially compares two groups by analyzing similarities and

differences between groups, in an attempt to draw a conclusion about them. A

quantitative research in a comparative study is characterized by the manipulation of an

independent variable to measure and explain its influence on a dependent variable. It

emphasizes objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, numerical

analysis of the data collected. The comparative research design will be used to

compare the ABM students and non ABM students enrolled in BS Accountancy in USM

(independent variables) in terms of their academic performances (dependent variable).

It will be a quantitative study as the researchers aim to compare the performances of

the respondents based on their scores on the Pre Test administered by the
accountancy department and Final Grade in one of their accounting subject, Financial

Accounting and Reporting.

Research locale and respondents of the study

The researchers chose the University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, Cotabato

as the location of the study. The respondents will be the first year BS in Accountancy

students of the said school and are still currently enrolled in the Accountancy program.

The researchers decided to completely enumerate the respondents because of their

small population and to achieve statistical confidence.