AWARENESS OF MARITIME STUDENTS OF NAVAL STATE UNIVERSITY ON OUTCOME-BASED EDUCATION

Outcome-based Education (OBE) has become the center of educational reform across the country. OBE is a process that involves the changing of academic performance practices in education by assessment and reporting to reflect the achievement of high order learning and mastery rather than the accumulation of course credits (Caguimbal et.al.,2013 and Tucker, 2004). Naval State University adopted and implemented OBE across the University including Maritime Education. However, no study has been conducted to investigate on the awareness of Maritime Students of NSU on Outcome-based Education. In this study, the researchers aimed at assessing the awareness of Maritime Students on OBE in terms of its advantages, disadvantages and on the different activities undertaken in relation to the implementation of OBE. The researchers employed descriptive research method wherein ninety (90) Maritime students were randomly selected as respondents. Results showed that OBE promotes the acquisition of the specific skills and competencies in a country in which there are many skills shortages is the utmost advantage of OBE. However, people with vested interests and strong personalities in standard-generating bodies may manipulate the standard-setting process to achieve their own objectives, the utmost disadvantage of OBE according to the students per results gathered from their answers-this supports the findings of Gutiera, et. (2015). Educational/Professional achievement of Instructors is the factor which greatly affects the implementation of OBE in Naval State University particularly in the College of Maritime Education wherein the study was conducted. Actual Demonstration was found out to be the most effective activity in the implementation of OBE which will lead to the improvement of the students' academic performance thereby making them world-class graduates.