Reading comprehension and academic performance of students in science at Magsaysay National High School

International Journal of Research Studies in Educational Technology
Divine Word College of San Jose Special Issue
Volume 10, Issue Number 1

Available Online: 2 April 2026

Author/s:

Portales, Francis E.*
Divine Word College of San Jose, Philippines (francis.portales@deped.gov.ph)

Valera, Jason S.
Divine Word College of San Jose, Philippines (jason_dwcsj101920@yahoo.com)

Galay-Limos, Jenny A.
Divine Word College of San Jose, Philippines (jennygalay05@gmail.com)

Abstract:

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between reading comprehension and science academic performance among junior high school students at Magsaysay National High School-Alibog Annex during the school year 2024–2025. The study adopted an exploratory sequential design. It consisted of two phases: a qualitative part through interviews with twelve (12) students to identify the difficulties encountered by students in reading comprehension, and a quantitative survey of one hundred thirty-seven (137) students to determine the extent of these identified difficulties. Phil-IRI results and students’ final science grades were also analyzed to assess comprehension skills. The findings revealed that students commonly struggled with text structure, concentration, proficiency, and vocabulary knowledge. Among the four aspects, vocabulary knowledge demonstrated a significant effect on students’ reading comprehension, while text structure and concentration significantly affected their academic performance. Most respondents were at the instructional reading level, indicating that they could understand texts with the instructor’s assistance. The research also found a significant relationship between reading comprehension and academic performance in science. To address these difficulties, the researcher proposed a program known as READ UP (Reading Enhancement and Academic Development Uplifting Program), which includes peer tutoring and motivational strategies. This program aims to enhance students’ reading comprehension and strengthen their motivation to learn. Generally, the study emphasizes that strengthening reading comprehension, particularly understanding text structure and maintaining concentration, can help students excel not only in science but also in other subject areas.

Keywords: reading comprehension, Phil-IRI, instructional reading level, academic performance, READ UP

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrset.2026.26003

Cite this article:
Portales, F. E., Valera, J. S., & Galay-Limos, J. A. (2026). Reading comprehension and academic performance of students in science at Magsaysay National High School. International Journal of Research Studies in Educational Technology, 10(1), 37-56. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrset.2026.26003

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