ACADEMIC incentives given to high school athletes may be fostering student laxity.
This observation was made by UST High School officials after the decline in academic performance of some student athletes enjoying the benefits of the Program in Academics for Student-Athletes (Pasa)
The program, which was implemented only last year, aims to assist student-athletes balance their academic and athletic obligations.
“But it’s not an option for them to use this program to slack off because of the incentives given to them,” said Frederick Manubay, program chairperson.
Ma. Teresa Ramos, assistant chairperson of the program, said student-athletes sometimes tend to not take their quizzes if they have practice sessions or game schedules.
The situation prompted the PASA panel and other school officials to raise the passing mark from 47-percent raw score to 55.
But the panel retained the 60-50-percent win-loss incentive for non-championship games and a 100-percent incentive for student-athletes who missed quizzes and activities but won championship games.
“We made this program for the benefit of the student-athletes because it’s worth their time, effort, and sacrifice for the UST Juniors department,” Ramos said. “We want them to excel not just in the sports they’re competing in but also in their academics as well.”
No athlete is reported to have failed in any subject so far. Gone also are cases wherein coaches approach teachers to pass their players.
All 42 students of St. Digna, the exclusive section for the student-athletes, graduated last March.
One-class disadvantage
Confining the athletes in a single room made them more vulnerable to contagious diseases like cold and flu. The condition prompted some parents to file complaints last summer over children getting ill more frequently.
This year, only 35 out of the 80 graduating student-athletes signed the consent to avail of the incentives of the PASA program. With so few takers, school officials decided to dissolve the section exclusively for athletes for failing to meet the required minimum of 45 students per room.
“It’s just difficult for some teachers now because when an athlete is out for a game, there will be no synchronization in the students’ make-up lessons in order to cope with their missed activities in school,” Ramos said.
“We really want to recreate St. Digna section because it will be a lot easier for the teachers to adjust to the student-athletes needs and also to the students as well for they can make-up their missed school activities, quizzes, or exams easily,” Manubay said. H. A. C. Caballe
