Problems Encountered by BSSW IV Students LA Field Practicum

Abstract

This study looked into the problems encountered by the fifty (50) field practicum students of the UNP ISWCD, frst and second semester, SY 2003-24 with the aim of gathering informatlon, feedbacks and suggestions for curricular enrichment/revision and to improve the marketability of the Bachelor of Science in Social Work graduates. The descriptive method of research was used. A questionnaire checklist was utilized to gather data from the respondents. Statistical tools used were frequency count, percentage, mean and chi-square. The study fond out that there were more female than male respondents. Most of them were single and regular student. The  sproblems ecountered by the field practicum. Problems with the following: inadequate classrooms, inadequate social welfare agencies, many academ loads other than field pacticum, insufficient time to complete the required mumber of trainiag hours, limited mumber of faculty members or teaching major subjects, insuficient orientation/supervision of the field instructor or social worker, high supervisor-student trainee ratio, inability of the student trainee to participate on the problem solving process, inability of the student trainee to prepare administrative records and other required documents, ability of the student trainee to identify problems and treatment plan, inadequate for supervision due to the social workers/supervisors' performance of other duties and functions, distance of the community/workplace, insuficient personal allowance in going to the workplace/commnlty, and the performance of family duties and responsibilities. Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn: The performance of the practicum students can be attributed to the supervision and orientation of the agency,  social worker and the field practicum instructor, and the quality of its curriculum, teaching staff and better physical facilities can lead to excellence among the practicum students. The following recommendations were forwarded: provision of better physical facilities in order to provide a more conducive learning environent both inside and outside the school; curriculum revision and enrichment so that social work graduates can move from the direction of relevance and excellence; amendments in RA 5175, the "Social Work Law" particularly Ar. 101, Sec. 12 le. to reduce/decrease the required number of case hours; Summer classes to be offered to incoming practicum students in order to reduce their academic load giving them more time for field practicum; additional monetary incentives given to field instructors/agency social workers while supervising the students in their practicum in the different social welfare agencies.