CHAPTER I

The Problem and It’s Background

Introduction

The Senior High School (SHS) covers the last two years of the K to 12 program and

includes Grades 11 and 12. In SHS, students will go through a core curriculum and subjects

under a track of their choice.

According to Rouse (n.d.) STEM is an educational program developed to prepare primary

and secondary students for college and graduate study in the fields of science, technology,

engineering and mathematics (STEM). In addition to the subject-specific learning, STEM aims

to foster inquiring minds, logical reasoning, and collaboration skills.

Work immersion is a part of the Senior High School curriculum in which the students,

specifically the grade 12, needs to do an actual work or hands on experience. This can be a

course related job or simulated only.

Work immersion enables learners to become familiar with the workplace, simulate work,

and apply their competencies in authentic work environments. Further strengthened by issuance

of the DepEd Order No. 30, s. 2017, the program aims to help develop life and career skills and

prepare learners to decide regarding pot-secondary education or employment.

Work Immersion is one of the course requirements for graduation. A Senior High School

student has to undergo Work Immersion in an industry that directly relates to the student’s

postsecondary goal. Through Work Immersion, the students are exposed to and become familiar

with work-related environment related to their field of specialization to enhance their

competence. Specifically, the students are able to: (i) gain relevant and practical industrial skills

under the guidance of industry experts and workers; (ii) appreciate the importance and
application of the principles and theories taught in school; (iii) enhance their technical

knowledge and skills; (iv) enrich their skills in communications and human relations; and (v)

develop good work habits, attitudes, appreciation, and respect for work. These prepare them to

meet the needs and challenges of employment or higher education after graduation.

Grade 12 is the second year of Senior High School and is now the final year of high

school prior to employment, entrepreneurship, or college/university in the country.

In addition, from PhilJobNet (2016) the work immersion is a process in which the

students can learn more about working and gaining knowledge on the related job course they

took. It is a way on showing how working should be done.

The Grade 12 students of the Bacarra National Comprehensive High School will be

conducting their work immersion soon, and the researchers thought of an idea on making a study

to know the different perceptions of the Grade 12 students before and after the work immersion.

Problem
 What are the perceptions of the Grade 12 academic students before and after the work

immersion?

Objective of the Study

This study aims to determine the perception of the Grade 12 academic students before

and after work immersion in terms of expectations and the real situation.

Specifically, it seeks to determine

1. To compare the students’ expectation and the real situation in the work immersion on the

following terms:

a. Working place

b. Employer/Supervisor

c. Tasks

d. Co-workers

2. Problems encountered

Conceptual Framework

Students’ Perceptions on
work immersion

Expectations

~ Reality
Significance of the Study

Knowing the perceptions of students may help the BNCHS-SHS Administrators to know

whether the work immersion may give an opportunity to students to examine and learn from

their experiences and establish high quality outcomes. This study will serve as a basis and a

guide in enriching student’s life experience and preparation for their future. Also, this will be

possible to become a source of information or basis for the future researches that are related to

this study.

Scope and Delimitations

This study was delimited to Grade 12 academic students of Bacarra National

Comprehensive High School and the perceptions of the students before and after the work

immersion in the school year 2017-2018. The researchers will conduct pre and post interviews

and analyzed student applications and evaluations.