The Impact Of High Heat Index On The Academic Performance Of Senior Highschool
Students Of Saint Philomene Of Alcala Inc.
Chapter I
The Problem And Its Background
Introduction
The impact of high heat index on the academic performance of senior high school students
is a significant concern in the Saint Philomene of Alcala Inc. As a country with a tropical
climate characterized by high temperatures and humidity, the effects of climate change have
become evident, leading to devastating disasters and abrupt changes in people’s lives.
Climate change refers to the long-term alteration of average weather patterns that define
Earth’s local, regional, and global climates. These changes have a wide range of observed
effects that are synonymous with the term. High heat index is one of the recent issues our
country has been facing nowadays, as the temperature has been rising rapidly, affecting the
academic performance of high school students.
Academic performance is a crucial measure of student achievement across various subjects.
It is typically assessed through classroom performance, graduation rates, and standardized
test results. However, due to the extreme heat caused by climate change, the academic
performance of students seemed to be lacking. In recent decades, concern over climate
change has spread to every country. Climate change is occurring now as a result of human
activity, and thus as a result of the observed increase in greenhouse gas concentrations
caused by human activities such as the use of fossil fuels and land use change. Greenhouse
gases are trapping more heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing global average
temperatures to rise. Extreme heat waves are more likely to occur more often and last
longer as temperatures increase. Heat waves can be dangerous, causing illnesses including
heat cramps and heat stroke, and sometimes death. Warmer temperatures may lead to
other global changes. This is because higher temperatures in the atmosphere have had an
effect on the oceans, weather patterns, snow, and ice, as well as plants and animals.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services
Administration (PAG-ASA), the highest temperature recorded this year was 53 degrees
Celsius. This weather can be dangerous to students who are more vulnerable to heat-related
illnesses. Prolonged exposure to high temperature can cause heat-related illnesses such as
heat stroke and exhaustion. Furthermore, the effects of high heat index can be dangerous,
especially for students who are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Heat exhaustion
and heat stroke are common conditions that can occur due to prolonged exposure to high
temperatures, and these can be life-threatening if not treated promptly (Queen Alyn S.
Jaranilla-Mondejar, 2023).
In connection to education, one factor to consider great learning is conducive learning.
Hence, a well-ventilated and equipped classroom could be a very helpful variable in helping
students keep focus inside the classroom during classroom. Research indicates that
students’ health is negatively impacted by excessive heat, which inevitably affects their
learning outcomes instructions. It is relevant to know its basic needs to prevent such
particular problems. Basically due to its causes and personal experience of senior high
school students, eagerly wants to expect such particular solution to implement strategies
that can support students in coping hot weather conditions.
Extreme heat can cause physical discomfort, dehydration, and fatigue which can affect
students’ ability to learn and perform well academically. Proper ventilation is needed to help
the students to gain focus and comfort during classes. Knowing the feeling of students
during this kind of weather is very important to help them deal with their academic
problems that they have been experiencing because of the extreme heat. Enough supply of
water in every classroom is necessary for the students to stay hydrated all the time.
Over 1.3 million students in around 4,000 schools nationwide are affected by extreme heat
as schools suspend face-to-face classes and shift to alternative delivery modes. Aside from
the suspension of classes, DepEd has allowed schools to implement several adjustments to
ensure the safety of students and learners amid unfavorable weather conditions such as
extreme heat (Merlina Hernando-Malipot, 2024). This is soon followed by Saint Philomen of
Alcala, Inc. This is done to ensure the safety of all students. Understanding children’s
responses to weather conditions particularly to high heat index can have a significant impact
on their learning, as well as behavioral concerns and parenting, in addition to health.
This study aims to determine the impact of high heat index on the academic performance of
senior high school students in Saint Philomene of Alcala, Inc. It aims to raise awareness
regarding the significant impact of high heat index on students and how it may possibly
affect their learning. Under these circumstances, to better understand the connection
between high heat index and children’s Academic performance, a questionnaire survey will
be conducted by inquiring students about their experiences during the hot summer school
days. The survey offers a new perspective and highlights the challenges of heat stress and
discomfort on students inside their classrooms.
