Perceived Impact of Poverty on Student Engagement, Motivation, and Academic Performance

This study, conducted in Pantar District, Lanao del Norte, during 2023-2024, explored how poverty affected student engagement and motivation. Using a descriptive-correlational design, 100 teachers observed poverty's impact on underprivileged students. Findings revealed that poverty moderately affected student engagement, particularly attendance and interconnected aspects like attention span, peer relationships, and class participation. Students consistently agreed on poverty's impact, emphasizing shared perceptions. On motivation, poverty had a moderate impact, influencing interest in learning, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Low standard deviation indicated agreement on poverty's motivational impact, urging tailored interventions. Academic performance was generally positive indicating "Satisfactory" standards and excelling Very Satisfactory. No students fell below expectations, highlighting overall positive academic trends. In analyzing factors influencing student motivation, attendance, attention span, and peer relationships did not predict motivation significantly. However, class participation emerged as a crucial positive predictor, underlining its role in fostering student motivation. Analyzing academic performance and student engagement or motivation did not yield significant results, emphasizing the complexity of factors influencing student achievement. In conclusion, poverty consistently impacted student engagement and motivation, urging targeted interventions. Despite challenges, positive academic trends highlighted students' resilience. Class participation was crucial for motivation, emphasizing the need for a holistic understanding of factors shaping academic success. Non-significant findings suggested a need for further exploration into the intricate relationship between student engagement, motivation, and achievement in the context of economic disparities.