CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The k-12 program covers kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six years of primary education,

four years of junior high school and two years of senior high school) to provide sufficient time for mastery

of concept and skills, develop lifelong learners and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level

skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.

The General Academic Strand or GAS is one of the four strands of the Academic Track for Senior High

School. Unlike the other career-specific strands, GAS is designed for students who are not decided yet on

what course they want to take in college. In this strand, you can choose from the electives of the different

tracks such as Applied Economics, Organization and Management, Humanities, Social Sciences, and

Disaster Preparedness.

The General Academic Strand or GAS is one of the four strands of the Academic Track for Senior High

School. Unlike the other career-specific strands, GAS is designed for students who are not decided yet on

what course they want to take in college. In this strand, you can choose from the electives of the different

tracks such as Applied Economics, Organization and Management, Humanities, Social Sciences, and

Disaster Preparedness.

The article focused on the real reason why the General Academic Strand of the K to 12 program was

implemented. It is to give ways for the undecided students to think about their preferred degree once they

step in to college. It may seem fair to hear the good side of it but it is obvious to know that the students who

took the said strand are not really that prepared for their future. One of the anomalies of the program stated

in the article is that some students go to college for the sake of getting a college degree. It sounds dispiriting

if we think about these students' future, but it really is true. In fact, that is not the only case. There are over

42 percent of senior-high-school-students-to-be who weren't able to enroll this school year due to various

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reasons, which is quite saddening. Since we cannot force students to take strands they wouldn't want to be

spending money on and isn't their choice, the General Academic Strand is the way for these undecided

students. However, the article stated that the students who took the General Academic Strand will not be able

to enter a type of college related to the other strands such as Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics or STEM and the Accountancy, Business and Management or ABM, because they have not

taken the introductory subjects of either of the two strands. Some students start college with a major their

parents picked for them, not realizing that if they end up changing majors too far into their education it will

take them longer to graduate. It is also stated that there are some students who are currently in college that

still do not know what future they want to pursue once they entered the adult life. Thus, they transfer from

one course to another in hoping to find the appropriate track for their future. On a side note, the government

did not implement the General Academic Strand for the undecided students only. Of course, students that

wanted to pursue a major in college related to education are to be placed in this strand. In one way or

another, the future is still in the hands of each student who are currently in senior high school. Whether they

want to get a degree or simply just graduate, it is still up to them. These strands are just a guide point in their

lives to help them make up their mind with what they really want to be once they had entered the adult life.

Either way, students really should take the time to make up their mind about choosing the right path for their

designated skills and talents, because these are the fundamental needs of preparing and choosing the strand

suited to help them in their future jobs.

Statement of the Problem

General Statement of the Problem
 Are the graduating GAS students of Tagaytay City Science National High School rprepared

for college?

Specific Statement of the Problem

 How did the lessons in GAS helped the students in choosing their course in college?

 What is the attitude of the respondent/s towards decision-making on what to take in college in

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 terms of emotional, mental and decision-making?

 What are the factors that affects in choosing what course to take in college?

Significance of the study

Learning is the aspect of development that connotes modification of behavior, skills and knowledge that

results from practice and experience which sought for quality education.

The generalization of this present study would be a great contribution to the vast knowledge in relation to

student’s achievements. Vital results of this investigation could be highly significant and beneficial

specifically to the following:

The curriculum developers- the curriculum developers can adjust and it depends on whatever the result is.

They can either change, develop or maintain their way of teaching.

The parents- they will also benefit from this study because they will know and feel relieved that the future

of their children is in the right hands.

The students- the students are the ones who will benefit here the most because they will know if this strand

can really help them determine their chosen career in college.

The teachers- they will be aware if their way of teaching is good or if they still need to improve it or change

it for the the better learning of their students.

Scope and Limitations of the study

The study focuses on the emotions or feelings of the graduating GAS students of Tagaytay City Science

National High School towards career readiness and the study will be conducted to the students under grade

12 General Academic Strand, academic year 2018-2019

Definition of Terms
Conceptual Definitions
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Attitude- is a psychological construct, a mental and emotional entity that inheres in, or characterizes a

person.(Wikipedia, 2019).

Education- the field of study that deals mainly with methods of teaching and learning in schools. (Merriam-

Webster 2019)

Curriculum Adjustment- In this study, the term refers to the new set of activities and trends integrated in the

implementation of the K to 12 program. (blog.edukasyon)

School Readiness- each child enters the school ready to engage in and benefit from early learning

experiences that best prmote the child’s success. (Kentucky Department of Education)

General Academic Strand- is an academic strand which is designed for students who are not decided yet on

what course they want to take in college. (blog.edukasyon)

Operational Definitions

Attitude- It is the feelings or emotions of the graduating students in terms of work preparedness

Education- knowledge acquired by an individual after studying particular subject matters or experiencing life

lessons that provide an understanding of something.

Curriculum Adjustment- it is for some students and teachers to modify the outcomes to meet the student’s

individual learning needs

School Readiness- - As applied in this study, signifies the capability of the schools to provide better

facilities, school buildings, tools, equipment and instructional materials and aids

General Academic Strand- is the chosen strand for those incoming senior high school who are still undecided

on what course they will take in college.

CHAPTER 2

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 Review of Related Literature

Local Literature

According to Patriz Biliran(2018) GAS is perfect for students who are still unsure about what they

will take in college. Because GAS students are required to pick electives from other academic strands, they

are expected to be skilled in different subjects. Usually these students must be a “jack of all trades” type of

individual or simply those who can do virtually everything. This means that they should possess the

strengths of the STEM, HUMSS, and ABM students in their respective areas of expertise.

The General Academic Strand (GAS) is designed for students who prefer a diverse selection of

courses. The strand aims to provide the students with a framework of liberal education equipping them with

a knowledge and skills to facilitate intellectual and physical growth, to pursue their studies in college or

university and contribute to the improvement of the community in which they live. The GAS Curriculum

includes specialization in the arts, humanities, business, sciences and mathematics.

While the other strands are career-specific, the General Academic Strand is great for students who are still

undecided on which track to take. You can choose electives from the different academic strands under this

track. These subjects include Humanities, Social Sciences, Applied Economics, Organization and

Management, and Disaster Preparedness.( Kaye Ampong & Shanya Cooray)

In an article Isagani Cruz discussed about the K12 curriculum strands specifically the General

Academic Strand. He said that General Academic Strand is the strands for students who are undecided for

what courses they will take in college. He also talked about the subjects under the General Academic strand

which are social science, 2 chosen electives, applied economics, organization and management subject,

disaster readiness and risk reduction, and etc. The disadvantage and advantages of taking General Academic

Strand was also said in the article.

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Foreign Literature

GAS Academic strand has the following program educational objectives which will be achieved after

graduating from senior high school. These are to continue their baccalaureate degree in a major field of

specialization of their choice and to contribute to the nation by joining the work force in GAS related jobs.

Career Objectives

An accounting, business and management program prepares students for a career in business, accounting and

management which may stretch across any sector and industry. Graduates can also go on further study in

college or in a university. The GAS graduates from AMAES can join the workforce as:

· Marketing Associates

· HR personnel

· Sales Associates

· Finance Associates

This strand is purposively designed for those students who are still indecisive of what course or degree they

want to pursue in college. A student who finished on this strand can proceed to any college program.

However he/she has to take some subjects not taken in Senior High but required by a particular college as a

bridging program to assess his/her preparedness in the field of study chosen.

Isagani Cruz also briefly mention about the advantages and disadvantages of taking General Academic

Strand. Advantages, first thing you get the general or the basic part of the other academic strand that will

make them minimally prepared to enter higher education. Disadvantages, students who will take General

Academic Strand will have a bit problem catching up with the lessons because the other student who gets to

pick the specific track will get more information in the course that they will take in college. In my own

opinion its is better to take General Academic Strand if your really undecided to what course you will take in

college because it will be more difficult if you our still undecided in college and just like a lot of college

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students today that shift to another course because they are still not sure. Picking up a course in college is

crucial so students should think a lot before picking because if not it would be a big waist of time and

money. General Academic Strand is really helpful for students like us who our still undecided for our future.

Synthesis.

Variable/Topic Reference List Findings/Concept

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  https://blog.edukasyon.ph/senior-high/5-things- GAS students should possess the strengths of the STEM,
gas-students-say-general-academic-strand/ HUMSS, and ABM students in their respective areas of
expertise

 https://blog.edukasyon.ph/senior-high/5-things- The strand aims to provide the students with a framework

gas-students-say-general-academic-strand/ of liberal education equipping them with a knowledge
and skills to facilitate intellectual and physical growth, to
pursue their studies in college or university and contribute
to the improvement of the community in which they live.

About the General  https://www.edukasyon.ph/courses/senior-high- The General Academic Strand is great for students who
tracks/academic/gas-general-academic-strand are still undecided on which track to take. You can choose

Academic Strand electives from the different academic strands under this
track.

 https://amauonline.com/courses/ Isagani talked about the subjects under the General

general-academic-strand/ Academic strand which are social science, 2 chosen
electives, applied economics, organization and
management subject, disaster readiness and risk
reduction, and etc

 https://usjr.edu.ph/seniorhig The objectives of GAS are to continue their baccalaureate

hschool/track/academic/gas/ degree in a major field of specialization of their choice
and to contribute to the nation by joining the work force
in GAS related jobs.
Career Objectives

 https://thesisstatement.word GAS Academic strand has the following program

press.com/blog/ educational objectives which will be achieved after
graduating from senior high school

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

A qualitative research design will be used in the study. The research will conduct an interview to those

selected graduating GAS students who are still undecided of what course they will pursue in college.

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Participants

The target participants will be the selected graduating students of GAS student who are still undecided

of what course they will pursue in college during Academic Year 2018-2019.

Sampling Technique

The sampling technique that the researchers will use is the homogenous sampling. This approach will

help the researchers identify those students who have the same or similar traits.

Data Collection Procedure

Preparation of Requesting
Requesting Permission
Permission for
for Data Collection Data Analysis
the
the Conduct
Conduct of
of the
the Study
Study
Research Instrument

Permission of the
Principal Open Coding
Conducting an
Content Validity Interview
Permission of the
Participants

Figure 1. Data Collection Procedure

Figure 1 shows the Preparation of the researcher in this study. The researcher prepares and contents

validaton in this study, and then prepared a letter for the participants and principal. The interview woll be an

open ended question and in an oral way.

Data Analysis Method

The data being collected is subjected to an open coding method that will be used by the researchersto

analyze the gathered data or information. There will be an appropriate code that will be used depending on

the answer of the participants in certain questons. This code will help the research in analyzing and gathering

data.

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Research Instrument

The researchers will use the interview protocol as their research instrument. It is more reliable to use the

interview protocol in gathering or collecting data. The researchers constructed interview questions about the

topic to be answered by selected participants.

REFERENCES

https://blog.edukasyon.ph/senior-high/challenges-faced-by-students-under-each-academic-strand/

https://blog.edukasyon.ph/senior-high/5-things-gas-students-say-general-academic-strand/

https://www.edukasyon.ph/courses/senior-high-tracks/academic/gas-general-academic-strand

https://amauonline.com/courses/general-academic-strand/

https://usjr.edu.ph/seniorhighschool/track/academic/gas/

https://thesisstatement.wordpress.com/blog/

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