Chapter I

The Problem and its Background

Introduction

In school, the teacher gives out quizzes or tests after the lesson in order to

evaluate or determine if the students listened and acquired knowledge in class because

knowledge is useless if it is not practiced or applied.

For undergraduate college students, On-the-Job Training is one of the

requirements on their course/ profession. OJT (On-the Job Training) usually happens in

the latter part (third and fourth years) of their academic year because the earlier years

(first and second years) will serve as the learning chapter.

Before being professional, undergraduate college students will undergo OJT for

practicing and testing the knowledge, they have acquired in the academe. A school

supervisor for guidance, observation, and teaching also accompanies them. In this way,

undergraduates can experience the life on workplace. Even if they commit mistakes, it

will not affect their credibility as professionals. The purpose of OJT therein is

undergraduates can grasp the reality of their profession and anticipate the problems

and challenges they will encounter when they are already professionals in the future.

Another purpose of OJT is to measure the efficiency of an individual to a certain field of

their profession. This will determine the individual's strengths, weaknesses, capabilities,

and personal ethics. OJT will also give undergraduates an idea on what to improve on

their personalities, skills, beliefs, etc.

 In social work profession, OJT also termed as Field Instruction and it is part of

Social Work's domain as a profession. A school supervisor and an agency supervisor of

their chosen agency will accompany social work students who will undergo OJT. Field

Instruction of Social Work has required hours of 1000 that is guided by the Republic Act

4373: "An Act to regulate the Practice of Social Work and the Operation of Social Work

Agencies in the Philippines and for other Purposes". Field Instruction is divided into two

parts. The first Field Instruction will happen on the summer of 3rd year and it focuses on

Working with Individuals and Groups. It requires 300 hours for completion. The second

Field Instruction will happen on the second semester of 4th year and it focuses on

Community Organizing with a requirement of 700 hours.

During the duration of Field Instruction I, the social work interns of Pamantasan

ng Lungsod ng Maynila AY 2016-2017 experienced different challenges and hardships

that were shared among their clique. Through this, the researchers learned that many of

the social work interns experienced challenges and difficulties that were beyond their

expectations. The researchers then came up on the idea of writing a study regarding the

internship related challenges that the social work students experienced. Moreover, the

researchers are interested on how the social work interns coped up with these

challenges. This then led to the creation of our thesis title: "The Internship Related

Challenges Faced and Coping Mechanisms done by the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng

Maynila Social Work Students AY 2016-2017."

In this study, the researchers will conduct a survey questionnaire among the 36

respondents from BS Social Work fourth year class of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng

Maynila. They will be asked regarding the challenges theyve faced during their
internship and they will also be asked on the ways theyve coped with it. The

researchers will then tally the results and analyze the data that will be gathered.

Through that, they can then make a conclusion regarding challenges faced by social

work interns and through these results; they can then make recommendation that can

be beneficial to other future social work students. This way, the future social work

interns will then be aware of the different challenges that may come their way during the

course which may become helpful to them in any way.

Statement of the Problem

This study explores the internship-related challenges experienced and coping

mechanisms done by the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Social Work students of

Academic Year 2016-2017 during their Field Instruction I.

This study specifically answers the following questions:

1. How many among the social work students, during their FI- I, experienced the

following?

a. Stress

b. Fatigue

c. Time Management

d. Applying principles, values and knowledge in casework

e. Commuting to their workplace

f. Budgeting money

g. Communicating with the school and agency supervisor

 2. How did the students cope to the challenges they have encountered during

their Field Instruction I?

Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

PLM Social Work

Students A.y. Challenges
Interns Self-
2016-2017 Coping
Awareness
Internship Mechanisms
Experiences

Significance of the Study

The purpose of this study is to explore the different challenges faced and coping

mechanisms done by the PLM Social Work students AY 2016-2017 during their Field

Instruction I that will be beneficial to the following:

1. To social work interns, this study will assist them on how to handle different

kinds of expected challenges during their period of practicum.

2. To School and Agency supervisors, this research will help them be aware about

the challenges and coping mechanisms encountered by their handled students.

3. To the researchers, this study will serve as a partial fulfilment of the

requirements in Research in Social Work.

4. To future student researchers, this study will help them guide their researches

regarding the various challenges experienced and coping mechanisms done by

the past interns during their practicum.

Scope and Delimitations

In general, the focus of the study is directed towards the challenges experienced

and coping mechanisms done by the PLM Social Work students AY 2016-217 during

their Field Instruction I A.Y. 2016-2017.This studys respondents will be the 36 PLM 4th

Year Social Works of AY 2016-2017 composed of 10 boys and 26 girls. It will be

conducted inside the campus premises with a timespan of four months.

This study will not include the researchers who are also PLM Social Work

students of A.Y 2016-2017. The scope of this studys challenges will be limited only on

the given challenges that were specified earlier on the Statement of the Problem.
Definition of Terms

Acceptance: Social works Principle followed by the Social Workers to accept the

clients no matter how hard the situation is, to understand their perceptions and beliefs

toward the situation they are facing.

Casework: One of the primary methods that the interns used in dealing with individuals.

Client-Worker Relationship: Boundary set between the client and the worker in a

helping relationship to obtain goals and objectives.

Coping Mechanism: An adaptation to environmental stress that is based on conscious

or unconscious choice and that enhances control over behavior or gives psychological

comfort.

Confidentiality: Implies a relationship between two or more persons in which the

information should be communicated and kept only between them.

Competence: A value which seeks to continue the process of improving the

knowledge, skills, and principles learned to be able to contribute more to the profession.

Fatigue: Extreme tiredness experienced by the Social Work interns due to multiple

roles in their Practicum.

FI-1. Field Instruction 1. On-the-job training in social work curriculum that involves

working with individuals and groups; duration of 300 hours.

Group work: A method used by a social worker consisting of a group of clients working

together through participating in different activities conducted towards certain goals and

objectives.
Human Worth and Dignity: A social work core value that believes people, despite of

their background, have inert human worth and dignity. It is also the respect given by the

workers regardless of differences of the people.

Individualization: The recognition of the client's unique characteristics.

Integrity: An act of honesty and responsibility as a Social Worker.

Internship: The position of Social Work student or other trainee who works in an

organization, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy

requirements for a qualification.

Participation of the client: This is the action of the client to be able to meet his goals

and objectives.

PLM: Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

Principles of Social Work: These are the guidelines of Social Workers to be able to

handle and treat their clients rightfully and effectively.

Self-determination of the client: The principle of self-determination is based on the

recognition of the right and need of clients in making their own choices and decisions.

Service to Humanity: Acknowledgment of serving others rather than prioritizing

something for their self-interest.

Social Justice: Responsibility to promote justice in relation to the common good of the

society and of the people whom the social workers work with.

Social Work: A Professional course that aims to help the individuals, families, groups

and communities to become better, effective and efficient.

Social Work Interns: PLM students who took Bachelor of Science major in Social

Work, attained 3rd year level, and experienced Practicum (FI-1) in the different agencies.

Stress: The feeling when under pressure or tension.

Time Management: the ability of the Social Work interns to use time in an organized

manner.

Values of Social Work: the guidelines and preferences of social workers towards the

goals and the best interest of their clients.

Worker-Self Awareness: get hold of the professionalism rather than personal interest;

also the consciousness of the worker of her duty to enhance the client rather than her

own.