Student Commuters’ Challenges and Initiatives in Travelling to and from Caraga State University

- This study explored the level of challenges and extent of initiatives of BEEd student commuters in traveling to and from Caraga State University. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the profile of the BEEd students, the level of challenges encountered by the participants in traveling to and from the university, and the extent of initiatives to counter the challenges met in commuting. The study employed a quantitative research design. Frequency counts, percentages, weighted mean, independent samples test, one-way analysis of variance ANOVA, and Pearson product-moment correlation were used in the study. Results revealed that the participants had a moderately extensive level of challenges. The participants were spending too much on fare due to the distance of their house to the university which resulted in hardly budgeting their allowance, experiencing tardiness due to weather conditions, being afraid to travel at night, and feeling nauseous due to traffic and pollution. In addition, the study highlighted the students’ extent of initiatives to counter those challenges in commuting in terms of expenses incurred and waiting time spent, weather conditions, availability of transport vehicles, and traffic and pollution. Their initiatives include waiting for the right route of vehicles, bringing an umbrella in bad weather conditions, and traveling early. The participants’ level of challenges and extent of initiatives in commuting vary according to their sex, year level, travel distance, and commute duration. Furthermore, there is a significant relationship between the student commuters’ level of challenges and the extent of initiatives in commuting. Thus, the students need to be responsible to counter the challenges met in commuting to and from the university. On the other hand, parents also need to be supportive, particularly in students’ finances and teachers may try to be considerate to students who live far from the university.