Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Career Education curriculum supports students in the process of

becoming successful, educated citizens by providing them with opportunities

to explore a variety of careers and options for their future. Career Education

(2016). In life, there are a lot of different decisions that has to be made, and

one has to make in order for an individual to be able to move on to their next

step in life. Decision making is indeed an unavoidable thing and a crucial part

in our life specially if one is undecided yet or has many options to take. But

it’s also an advantage to have a variety of choices wherein you can explore

and decide for opening some great opportunities. The same thing happens

when one student had finally graduated in junior high school and has to

decide in what strand to take in senior high school that is aligned with the

future course that he/she wants to pursue. Or worst, if still undecided, one

still has to figure out what course or job that suits him/her. So definitely,

thinking what strand to take would definitely be tough since he/she still has

no course in mind. Choosing and deciding on something has equivalent

consequences. The results of what you have chosen can either help you or

delay you in the near future, so it’s best to decide a course that is within your

interest and skills that suits you well, to prevent you from losing interest in
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your chosen course that will lead to couple of shifts from one course to

another along the way. Thus, this will not only waste effort that’s been

exerted but also time and money.

Upon choosing a preparatory strand for college and a course for your

future, there are a lot of factors that a student must consider. According to

Boyer (1987), “in taking a course, one of the life’s major decision is being

made. A lot of time, money, and effort will be involved. The shape and

excellence of the student’s life may rest on the result.” There are a lot of risks

that a student must take into consideration in choosing a preparatory strand,

but results will be a fruitful one based on the effort exerted. Mel Schwartz

L.C.S.W (2009), suggested that commitment “… usually evokes a strong

sense of intention and focus.” Being devoted to work or one’s desired course

is essential in choosing, and retaining to that chosen course through means of

commitment. Without greater cause of willingness or desire to finish what’s

been started, one cannot finish and succeed to it.

There are a lot of students out there who is having a hard time on

studying and making sure to be able to graduate on time. There are also a lot

of factors which affects their decision in choosing a course and specially in

retaining in it, and such things could be due to some reasons like

environmental factors: Financial constraints, availability of slots for

course/track, schools, problems arising due to the new curriculum and much

more. Another example of factors that may add on to it aside from

environmental are: friends, families, relatives, pressuring course, self-related

problems and more. College and senior high school students has something
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great in common regarding these stress they encounter in studying since the

new K-12 senior high school program is a preparatory stage for college.

The purpose of the researchers for conducting this study is to know

the different minor, moderate and major factors that influenced the students

to retain in their certain track. The factors include self-decision and relation of

the track to the college preferred course of the students, preferred college

course in the future, and advice of others (family and friends/peer influence).

Statement of the problem

The researchers that conducted this study aimed to answer the

following questions about the grade 12 Senior High School students under the

Technical-Vocational in Livelihood track, Home Economics strand of Western

Mindanao State University, Zamboanga City.

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents?

a. Age c. Religion

b. Gender d. Family Income

2. How many of them chose the Technical-Vocational in Livelihood Track

willingly?

3. What are the major and minor factors that influenced the Grade 12

students to retain in their chosen track?

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4. What made them retain in their chosen track?

5. How many percent is the major cause of influence on why they retain

in their respective tracks.

Significance of the study

This study has been conducted for the purpose of gaining a better

understanding regarding the factors that influences the Grade 12 students to

retain in their respective tracks and what are these following factors that

influences them.

G11 students - will benefit from this study since this could help

them choose and decide what career they must pursue after G12 by knowing

how and why the G12 students of the Technical-Vocational, Home Economics

chose and retained in their respective tracks individually.

Junior High School- will benefit from this study as this would be

beneficial for early decision making in choosing a course upon entering the

college life and to know what to expect. Also, they would not feel pressured

when choosing what track to take that is aligned to their chosen course to be

pursued in the near future. In short, this serves as an additional information

about the factors they might want to take into consideration in choosing and

retaining in a course.
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Returnees- these are Junior high school graduates batch (2014-

2015) who did not enroll in college but would like to enroll this school year

due to the new curriculum they are unable to proceed in college without

taking up senior high school first , also those college students that were able

to make it in college but unfortunately stopped halfway for various reasons

like (shifters, drop-outs, and etc). This would be useful to them as this would

enlighten them with details.

Scope and Delimitation

The study will focus only on the Grade 12 students TVL of the Senior

High School of the Western Mindanao State University Zamboanga City. The

purpose of this study is to know why and what made the grade 12 students

retain in their respective tracks discretely.

The study was conducted during the Second Semester SY 2017-2018.

Definition of Terms

Track- this term refers to the specific “course” consisting of various

specializations that helps a student to prepare for the subject specifications in

a course that they are looking forward to take in the future.

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TVL- (Technical-Vocational-Livelihood) Even without going to college

or after graduating college, the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood track will

equip and prepare the students with job-ready skills for their future. This

track also invests primarily and mostly on skills that can gain them necessary

COCs (Certificates of Competency) and NCs (National Certifications)

(example: NCII, NCIII) which would be helpful and necessary when looking

for better career opportunities in agriculture, electronics, and trade. This is

also essential when applying abroad where the skills you gain would prepare

you and will still be developed as you join the work industry.

Factors- this term refers to the various reasons, circumstance, people

and the environment that are influencing the students to retain in their

chosen track. The factors in this study includes self-decision and relation of

the track to the college preferred course of the students, self-decision and

relation of the track to the college preferred course of the students, preferred

college course in the future and advice of others (family and friends/peer

influence).