CHAPTER I

FROM AMBITION TO ACTION: INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF

CAREER GOALS IN STRAND DECISION MAKING

A.Background of the Study

Education is commonly accepted as the solution to the World’s

socioeconomic challenges. Education, among other things, is looked to by
nations and individuals to provide a remedy for poverty, drought, mental
inadequacy, joblessness, terrible government, a poor communication system,
starvation, and inadequate housing.

Given this obvious educational challenges, the Department of Education

has begun to adopt the new k-12 curriculum, which is a major curriculum
reform for all schools countrywide. This reform includes developing and
improving the basic education curriculum so that learners can master
basic competencies, as well as extending the basic education cycle to cover
kindergarten through year 12. The program ensures that graduates earn
the necessary skills and legal age for employment to qualify for entrance
into the world of work, if they desire or need to do so, by extending the
basic education by adding two years in high school. Graduates who choose
tertiary education, on the other hand, are considered better prepared for
college. Every country in the world strives to a high standard of living and
social standing.

The inclusion of two years secondary school, known as Senior High school
is a significant alteration brought about by the k-12 curriculum. The existing
four year secondary curriculum will be called Junior High School, which will
run from grades 7 to 10, and Senior High School will run from grades 11 to
12. The program makes sure that graduates obtain the required skills and
achieve the legal age for employment to qualify admittance into the world of
work. If they desired or need to do so, by adding additional two years in High
School. Graduates who choose to pursue tertiary education are thought to
be more equipped for college.

The k-12 curriculum will be improved too. All of the core subjects will be
still applied using the spiral approach where learning is a process of creating
upon the previously learned knowledge. Based on interest, the students may
choose their selections. The subject a student will take in Senior High School
to prepare for their profession will depend on the career path they choose.
The respective tracks are divided into four.
 ACADEMIC, which is divided into four strands: Accountancy Business
Management, Humanities and Social Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics, and General Academic Strand.

TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL, Which is divided into three strands:

Agriculture and fisheries, Home Economics, and Information and
Communication Technology.

SPORTS

ARTS AND DESIGN

The k-12 curriculum’s career specialties operate as a springboard for

students to plan out and pursue their desired careers. One of many
significant decisions student have to make while deciding their future plans
is which strand and track they have to follow. They will be affected by this
choice for the rest of their life.Career selection has been a severe issue
among secondary students in several countries such as the Philippines
because of the low income and poor governance.

Many secondary school students assume that their future will be filled with
amazing adventures in which they will undoubtedly achieve. A lot of them
believe that once they graduate high school, they will be able to work in a big
corporation or company.

Recently, researchers discovered that many students attempt to move and

locate another strand near the end of the first semester. As a result, the
researchers want to know how their strand selection affects their level of
satisfaction. As a result of the predicted increase in student numbers, many
challenges may arise.

This research study will be conducted to determine the factors of career

goals to students as they make their decision in choosing their strand or
track. This study also primarily focuses to determine the level of satisfaction
of selected grade 11 students with connection to their strand and track.
B. Statement of the Problem

This study will be conducted to determine how students’ career

goals influence their decision to choose a particular strand or
track in Senior High School. It also aims to identify the factors
that students consider when making this decision, including
personal interest, peer pressure, parental influence,economic
status, and societal expectations.

Specifically, the study aimed to provide answers to the following

questions:

1. What is the current track or strand of the respondents?

2. What factors did you consider when you are choosing a strand
or track to pursue on?

A. parental influence
B. Personal interest
C. Peer pressure
D. Societal expectations
E. Economic status

3. How did this affect you when you considered it as a factor when you are
deciding to choose a track or strand?

4. What are the recommendations or suggestions that you can give to future
Senior High School students while they are settling on in their SHS track or
strand?
C.Scope and Delimitation

Scope of the Study

The scope of this study is to explore the role of career goals in strand
decision making among Senior High School students in Castor Z Concepcion
Memorial National High School. The study will focus on the factors that
influence career goals, the decision-making process of students in choosing
their strand, and the impact of career goals on their academic and career
success. The investigation will be limited to Senior High school students in
Castor Z Concepcion Memorial National High School.

Limitation of the Study

This study may only focus on a specific geographic location, such as

School and municipality, and the findings may not be applicable to other
Regions or countries with different educational system. Also, this research
study will only focus on a specific set of strand options available to students,
and the respective School. The researchers may only use a specific research
methodology, such as qualitative interview, or a survey, which may not
capture all the nuances of strand decision making or career goal formation.
And this research study will only focus on a specific time period or academic
year, and may not be applicable when the K-12 curriculum will be repealed
out in future years.

D.Importance of the Study

The following are importance of the study:

1. For the School Heads of CZCMNHS, they could propose a pass pertinent
students programs like seminars, and the like that would allow them to
figure out how to develop the students talents and intelligence that would fit
on their selected track and strand using the findings of this study as a solid
foundation.

2. For educators. The educators will benefit from this research because they
can design more effective educational programs that cater to the needs and
goals of the learners. This can also led to better academic performance,
higher graduation rates, and better outcomes.
3. For the Students of Castor Z Concepcion Memorial National High
school, they must understand the importance of picking the appropriate
strand and tracks for themselves after reading this research study.

4. For future researchers, the findings of this investigation will be used as a

guide by researchers who wish to carry out the aforementioned study in the
future.

E.Definition of Terms

Throughout terms such as students, K-12 curriculum, and career

selection will be used. In order to assure that all readers are interpreting
these terms in the same manner as the committee intended the following
definitions are offered.

1. Students, Those who are Students are frequently pursuing a certain

academic program or course of study, and are required to attend courses,
take exams, and participate in other educational activities.

2. K-12 curriculum, 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 in senior high school) to provide sufficient time for
mastery of concepts and skills.

3. Basic education, basic education comprises primary education, and

lower secondary education, it also covers a wide variety of non formal and
informal public and private activities intended to meet the basic learning
needs of people of all ages.

4. Career selection, This relates to the wide range of chances for lifetime
careers. These vocations are outlined in a framework of tactics that work
toward individual objectives.