B’laan Population Structure and School Indicators: Basis for School Planning

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the B’laan population structure and school indicators of Matanao II District as basis for school planning.

Study Design: Descriptive survey design.

Place and Duration of Study: Matanao, Davao del Sur during the School Year 2017-2018.

Methodology: The respondents of the study were the fifty (50) Grade Six B’laan pupils, twenty-one and (21) school administrators of Matanao II District. Universal sampling method using the complete enumeration technique was utilized where respondents of the survey were school administrators and barangay personnel. However, cluster sampling was used in selecting the Grade Six pupils among elementary schools in Matanao District.Three sets of survey instruments were used to gather the relevant information. Data gathered were treated using the frequency and relative frequency.

Results: Majority of the Grade Six B’laan pupils were in the age of 12 years old and above, female, and believers of Christ to the Orient. Most of them did not have siblings studying in college. Their parents were in the elementary level, earning a monthly income of ₱1,001.00 to ₱3,000.00, and had 1 to 6 children. The common household appliances they had were television set, cellular phone, radio, electric fan, DVD player and motorcycle. The mode of transportation from home to school was mostly through walking. Majority of them did not spend any amount for their transportation, food and daily allowance. As to the profile and structure of the elementary schools, most schools in Matanao II District had a total land area of 2.0 to 2.9 hectares occupied by 4 to 6 buildings having 5 to 8 classrooms. Schools offered complete elementary education with 5 to 8 teachers handling the classes of 100 to 200 B’laan pupils. The number of B’laan pupils graduated from the schools per year was within the range of 10 to 60 pupils. Moreover, the National Achievement Test results showed that schools had an average MPS of 81-85. From the map generated, the researcher found that the average population density of B’laan were 2.07 with barangay Manga, Lagaan and Bangkal as that the top 3 barangays having the largest density of B’laan population.