“Strengthening the Value of Cleanliness in the Canteen Among

The Grade – 6 Students of LCC-N”

I. Introduction:

Cleanliness is both abstract state of being clean and free from dirt, and the process of achieving and maintaining that state. Cleanliness may be wed with a moral quality, as indicated by the aphorism “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”, may be regarded as contributing other ideals such as health and beauty. Being clean is a sign of spiritual purity or goodness, as to being clean is one of the most important things in life.

Canteen being one of the physical learning environments of the students plays a big role in their everyday school life, and so students’ must play an important role in maintaining the cleanliness of it. Administrations rules and policies can help students to engage in valuing the cleanliness of their surroundings. As a student and part of the canteen staff, I am oriented to maintain the cleanliness of our canteen, not just for the students, but for the employees and visitors also. But even though there is a signage that state “After buying and eating, please pick up your garbage and throw it in the trash can to maintain the cleanliness of our canteen”, the students seems to not notice the said signage, and continuously leaving their garbage all over the tables and floors.

Our Technology in the Learning Environment and Environmental Education team upon noticing students attitude towards cleanliness, made a plan of action to lessen the trash in the canteen. We created the ClayGO (Clean As You Go) to impart awareness to the students about how to pick their garbage, or simply throw their trash before they leave their tables. But then, it still didn’t work. The question that needs to be answered is “How to strengthen the value of cleanliness specifically in the canteen among students?” particularly the grade – 6 students.

With 30 grade – 6 students, made as respondents, I concluded that 75% of them are environmentally aware and values the cleanliness in LCC-N. They are half-way to becoming good stewards of the environment by maintaining the cleanliness in the canteen.

II. Statement of the Problem:

            This Action research is specifically made to answer these questions:

·         What are the factors that affect students’ behavior towards cleanliness in the canteen?

·         What intervention program could be proposed to strengthen the value of cleanliness in the canteen among the Grade – 6 students?

III. Scope and Delimitation:

                This study is focused on how the Grade 6 students of LCC-N value cleanliness in the canteen. Thirty (30) Grade 6 students were made as respondents. They were asked to answer the survey for the purpose of this study.

III. Methodology:

This study used the descriptive survey method to know the attitude towards cleanliness of the Grade 6 students of LCC-N. The sample survey questionnaire below was given to the 30 Grade 6 students of LCC-N to help and answer this study.

IV. Study Questionnaire:

What are the factors that affect students’ behaviour towards canteen cleanliness?

Directions: Please check (ü) and rate yourself honestly based on what you actually do given the statements using the following scales:

            Strongly Agree                       Agree              Disagree                      Strongly Disagree

FACTORS	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree
1.       I never encouraged my classmates to throw their garbage on the trash bins	6	12	6	6
2.       My teacher(s) discuss in the class about environmental awareness		4	17	9
3.       I throw my garbage everywhere because there are school personnel that are assigned in cleaning the area	21	5	2	2
4.       I join school projects that advocate cleanliness for a better learning environment		6	16	13
5.       I don’t pick up garbage I see around the area to lessen the worker’s work	10	10	7	3

II. Suggestions:

·         What school program/activities can you suggest to improve the cleanliness in the canteen?

-          Please check your answer below.

1. Placing additional trash bins inside the canteen – 24

2. Put up more signage about cleanliness – 19

3. Conducting of seminars every 2 months – 16

4. Giving acknowledgement or award to the most neat and clean batch of eaters – 25

VI. Findings:

A.     Personal Attitude

Among the items cited for the first category, the results show that many of the students have a positive attitude towards the environment. 33% of the respondents ‘strongly disagreed’ that they ‘throw my garbage everywhere because there are school personnel that are assigned in cleaning the area’; also 33% ‘disagreed’ that they ‘don’t pick up garbage I see around the area to lessen the worker’s work’.

B.     Peer Influence

Among the items cited for the second category, the result shows that many of the students don’t influenced their classmates that much. They just let their classmates throw their trash everywhere; given there are 40% respondents who ‘agreed’ they ‘never encouraged their classmates to throw their garbage on the trash bins.’

C.     Environmental Awareness

This category shows us the student’s awareness in our environment. 56% of the respondents ‘agreed’ that their ‘teachers discuss about environmental awareness in the class’; also 53% ‘agreed’ that they ‘join school projects that advocate cleanliness for better learning environment.’

D.     Suggestions:

The students were given the chance to choose what program or activities they would want the school services to have for the improvement of the canteen. 83% of the respondents want to have a program about “Giving acknowledgement or award to the most neat and clean batch of eaters.” 80% suggests “placing of additional trash bins.” 63% says that the canteen staff should “put up more signage about cleanliness”, and 53% suggested of “conducting seminars every two months.”

VII.     Conclusion:

In conclusion, most of the Grade 6 students from La Consolacion College are environmentally aware and have knowledge on how to keep their surrounding clean. Nearly all  of them seem to be environmental stewards who keep their surroundings clean by means disposing their trash in their proper waste bins, and by picking up litter when they see some lying on the ground.

Most of the students want to add some projects that will contribute to the betterment of the canteen. Some of them wanted the school services to add more waste bins on the canteen area. Putting up more signage was not really necessary.

So based on my research, I would say that to keep the canteen clean, proper orientation and adding more trash bins on the canteen will be a really big help.  

VIII.     Recommendation:

A.     Teachers & School Staff:

-          With this study, teachers and school staffs would be aware that teaching the students about environmental awareness is an essential tool. In schools around the world, school staffs aim to keep their school clean and safe for everyone. Knowing the positive effects of environmental awareness would help them achieve a clean and happy learning environment.

B.     Administration:

-          Every institution comes with rules and regulations, programs and plans, for the whole school year, and for the students. Maybe implementing rules about cleanliness would help the students realize the value of cleanliness not just on canteen, but around the campus also.

C.     Future researchers:

-          With this study, future researchers will have the knowledge on how to strengthen the value of cleanliness to the students. This also will be a guide for the enhancement of their study.