Masalah Penyesuaian di Kalangan Pelajar-Pelajar Tingkatan Satu Sekolah Berasrama Penuh di Kedah

The purpose of this study is to investigate and to identify the problem of adaptability among form one students in the boarding schools in Kedah. Specifically, the aim of this research is to find out whether the personality of the students, the families and their geographical background affect their process of adaptability. The research covers the problem experienced by students in finance, academic, food and accommodation, social, orientation and school facilities.
The primary data were gathered through a questionnaire responded by 186 students. Whereas the secondary data were gathered through a library research.
The independent variables analysed were gender, status in the family, place of stay (urban/rural), monthly income of the family, and the number of siblings of the students
studying at university. And the dependent variables were the overall adjustment problem, finance, food and accommodation, social, orientation, and school facilities.
The findings show that the form one students in the boarding schools in Kedah significantly experienced the problems mentioned. Girls, the first and middle children, those who came from rural areas, those whose families earned between RM1,501 - RM2,OOO monthly, and those who had no siblings studying at tertiary level faced more problems of adaptability.
This study found that the girls faced more problems in academic, social, orientation, and school facilities. The students who came from rural areas experienced more problems in academic, food and accommodation, orientation, and school facilities. The students whose families earned between RM1,501 - RM2,OOO monthly as well as those who were the first and the middle children experienced all the problems more, namely finance, academic, food and accommodation, social, orientation, and school facilities. Whereas those who had no siblings studying at tertiary level experienced more problems in finance, academic, food and accommodation, social, and orientation.
Recommendations regarding form one students’ adjustment problems were made, including a) giving the correct picture of hostel life, b) providing effective orientation and motivation programmes, c) providing counselling opportunities, d) providing sufficient facilities and
equipment, e) serving delicious and high quality food, f) providing the knowledge in the learning technique, and g) helping from the Parents and Teachers Association.
It is suggested that a further research is to be carried out. This is to see if significant differences between the two researches exist. Besides, other factors that contribute to the adjustment problems among form one students could also be identified.