Political Awareness and Political Involvement among Bachelor of Public Administration Students

Abstract

This study investigates the correlation between political awareness and political involvement among first-year Bachelor of Public Administration students at Santo Tomas College of Agriculture, Sciences, and Technology (STCAST). Using a survey with 200 students, data was collected through a questionnaire adapted from Hermosa’s (2021) Political Awareness and Involvement Questionnaire. The results show a moderate positive correlation (r =.524, p < 0.001) between political awareness and involvement, meaning students who are more aware of politics are also more likely to participate in political activities. The average score for political awareness was 3.94 (SD =.57), while political involvement was lower at 3.44 (SD = 0.72), showing a gap between knowing about politics and taking part in it. These findings highlight how schools can help students become more engaged citizens by including more political education in their lessons and encouraging participation in community activities. Helping students bridge the gap between awareness and action can strengthen democracy and prepare them to be active members of society. This study adds to the discussion on youth political engagement and shows how education plays a big role in shaping the future of governance. Future studies should also investigate ways to encourage long-term political participation and compare results across different schools and student groups.