Cadets’ Awareness, Attitude, and Performance of Onboard Training in Maritime Institutions: Bases for Enhancement Program

This descriptive-correlational research aimed at finding out the level of cadets’ awareness, attitude, and performance, as well as the relationship of onboard training in maritime institutions. The respondents of the study were the 276 randomly selected cadets who completed their 12 or 36 months of onboard training locally or internationally. Convenience sampling was employed in selecting the respondents coming from the maritime schools in Zamboanga Peninsula. Two adopted questionnaires were used: the cadets’ awareness checklist from Annex H of VCMM No. 1, series of 2022, cadets’ attitude by Barlis et al. (2015) [5]. The cadets’ performance was obtained from their respective Onboard Training Office (OBTO) of the selected maritime institutions. Mean, standard deviation, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Spearman rho set at .05 level of significance were the statistical tools used. Findings revealed that cadets are very aware, have a positive attitude towards onboard training, and have very good performance in onboard training. Significant differences were found in awareness, attitude, and performance based on department, years of sea service, and type of vessel, but not by route. A significant relationship exists between awareness and attitude, but not between awareness, attitude, and performance. The study concludes that maritime cadets in the Zamboanga Peninsula thoroughly understood all the necessary instructions for onboard training (OBT). However, their awareness of the role of designated training officers in monitoring their TRB progress got the lowest mean score. They also show a favorable attitude towards onboard training. Cadets' performance in onboard training is rated very good overall, meeting minimum competency with an above-average score. Departmental differences significantly influence cadets' awareness and attitudes towards onboard training, and performance varies significantly by years of sea service, department, and vessel type. A significant relationship exists between cadets' awareness and their attitudes, but not between awareness and performance, nor between attitudes and performance. The lack of a significant relationship between awareness and attitude to performance highlights the need for onboard training programs to focus on practical skills and competencies. The descriptive and inferential statistical results were used as the basis for the development of the enhancement program. While awareness and positive attitudes are important, they should be complemented with rigorous practical training, assessments, and performance feedback to ensure that cadets can translate their knowledge and attitudes into effective performance. Stakeholders such as school administrators, MHEIs, Maritime Industry Authority, shipping companies, cadets, onboard training officers, and future researchers and scholars may use the developed program to enhance the cadets’ awareness, attitude, and performance in the onboard training program.