University of the Philippines - Cebu

Social Science Department

Gorordo Avenue, Lahug 6000 Cebu City

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM TO THE FIRST

YEAR COLLEGE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES –
CEBU

A Practical Research Presented to the

Social Science Department
University of the Philippines Cebu

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

For PS 11: Introduction to Political Science
BA Political Science

Researchers:
Aliganga, Junpaolo S.
Dela Cruz, Learjet E.
Medalle, Paul Albert E.
Sanchez, Rizza J.

Submitted to:
Prof. Zenaida Ligan-Ashburn

November, 2018
I. Introduction

A. Brief Background

B. Statement of the Problem

General Problem

How can we determine the effectiveness of the Senior High School program to the first-
year college students of University of the Philippines – Cebu?

Specific Problems

1. How can the chosen track and strand of the first-year college students during Senior
High School affect the effectiveness of the Senior High School program to the first-
year college students of UP – Cebu?
2. Why are the core subjects of the track and strand helpful in the effectiveness of the
Senior High School program to the first-year college students of UP - Cebu?
3. How can the senior high school immersion experience aid in the effectiveness of the
Senior High School program to the first-year college students of UP - Cebu?

C. Rationale

D. Significance of the Study

E. Objectives

Main Objective

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the Senior High School program to
the first-year college students of University of the Philippines – Cebu.

Specific Objectives

1. To assess how the chosen track and strand of the first-year college students during
Senior High School affect the effectiveness of the Senior High School program to the
first-year college students of UP - Cebu.
2. To discover why the core subjects of the track and strand helpful in the effectiveness of
the Senior High School program to the first-year college students of UP – Cebu.
3. To evaluate how the senior high school immersion experience aid in the effectiveness
of the Senior High School program to the first-year college students of UP – Cebu.
F. Scope and Limitations

G. Approach

H. Methodology

I. Review of Related Literature

A study conducted by College Board (2016) “Preparation for College-Level Studies,”

nothing prepares students for college-level studies more thoroughly than a rigorous, high-
quality high school education. In today's demanding academic environment, educators face a
challenging range of classroom conditions with students from diverse ethnic, financial, and
academic backgrounds.1

No wonder why the Filipino education had taken all ways and means to “globalize” the
curriculum and implemented the K-12 Curriculum. The aims of the enhanced K12 or K -6-4-2
have positive implications to improve the education that every Filipino student should get.
College educators could attest to the fact of the lack of preparation that high school graduates
receive when they enter college.2

Now, the first batch of high schoolers under “K-12” just graduated last March 2018.
Government had lengthened their basic schooling from the old 10 to 13 years, on the premise
that schoolchildren need longer classroom time. Then honed two extra years in grade to high
school. Supposedly they would emerge better equipped for work or college. Are they? It’s time
to measure the success of that theory on the first batch of 17- to 18-year-olds. How to do it?

According to Jairus B. (2017) on his journal article entitled “How to Measure the
Impact of K-12,” the simplest way, although preparations would be grueling, is by a national
scholastic achievement test for all graduating 12th graders. That could be somewhat like the
NSAT given to 2nd year high schoolers under the old 10-year education program. The old test
checked their readiness for the more rigorous last two years of math, sciences, and social
studies. Like, after basic and advanced algebra, they should have been prepared for geometry
and trigonometry. 3

Based on a journal article by Vego, H. (2018) “Sorry for the Batch of K-12 Graduates,”
Alberto Fenix, the president of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), has

1
https://professionals.collegeboard.org/k-12/prepare
2
https://rodrigo75.wordpress.com/tag/k12-impact-on-colleges-and-universities-in-the-philippines/
3
https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2017/10/26/1752889/how-measure-impact-k-12
expressed worry that the first batch of K-12 graduates would not be employable in a
professional workplace. When students were asked how they felt, they answered “happy” but
lamented by the fact that they could have finish already two years of college without the K-12
mandate. 4 This means that mostly of the students will pursue and still, enroll and venture for
college. Would their college be that convenient having two years of intensive training and
learning?

On the contrary to the expected result, a recent study by Sturgis, C. (2017) entitled
“Readiness for College, Career and Life: The Purpose of the K-12 Public Education Today,”
stated that after decades of policy reforms and targeted improvement strategies, the on-time
graduation rate has inched up to 82%, with states ranging from 61% to 91%. Yet, Alaska
Natives, students with disabilities, Native American, African-American, and Latino students
continue to graduate at much lower rates: 55, 64, 70, 73 and 76%, respectively. Among those
students who do graduate high school, nearly 25% of them, from all socioeconomic groups,
require remedial courses in college, costing them and their families $1.5 billion a year.5

For the Philippines, as it is still the first time for the K-12 graduates will embark college,
only time and effort to monitor the program will tell if the potential benefits of the reform are
achieved. The Department of Education is already planning to once again participate in
international assessments. These assessments will provide part of the answer to whether
reforms have improved competitiveness. But this is only the tip of the iceberg.6

II. Data

III. Analysis/ Conclusion

IV. References

4
https://www.panaynews.net/sorry-for-the-first-batch-of-k-12-graduates/
5
https://www.inacol.org/news/readiness-for-college-career-and-life-the-purpose-of-k-12-public-education-
today/
6
http://blogs.worldbank.org/education/weighing-benefits-senior-high-school-philippines