The Effects of NSTP on the Lives of Saint Louis University Students

Authors: Marilyn L. Balmeo, Jeffry P. Falinchao, Kathleen Kaye L. Biay, Joyce Karen M. Ebes, Julienne G. Eclarino & Ivy Gail P. Lao-ang, Saint Louis University, Philippines
Email: malyn_balmeo@yahoo.com
Published: February 2015
https://doi.org/10.22492/ije.3.1.05

Citation: Balmeo, M. L., Falinchao, J. P., Biay, K. K. L., Ebes, J. K. M., Eclarino, J. G. et al. (2015). The Effects of NSTP on the Lives of Saint Louis University Students. IAFOR Journal of Education, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.22492/ije.3.1.05


Abstract

The National Service Training Program (NSTP) of the Philippines is a form of service learning which is defined as the integration of community services to instruction in order to strengthen the civic and community responsibilities of the students. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the NSTP for the students, its influences along self-improvement, performance, community involvement, and demonstration of abilities and skills, and the difficulties encountered by the students while enrolled in their respective NSTP courses. The 1421 respondents of the study were the undergraduate students of Saint Louis University who finished the NSTP courses last school year 2012-2013. The study utilized an adapted survey-type questionnaire to gather the data needed in the study. The findings of the study suggest that NSTP courses are effective and they influenced the self-improvement, performance, community involvement, and demonstration of abilities and skills of the students to an extent. The students are also able to continue to demonstrate the different competencies they learned or acquired from NSTP courses. Moreover, this study reveals that the students often encountered many difficulties while they were enrolled in the NSTP courses.

Keywords

NSTP, service learning, community services, self-improvement, performance, community involvement, competencies, difficulties