Background of the Study

The Philippines before the implementation of K to 12 was the only Asian country to have

a 10-year education program, and one of the three countries which still has it implemented along

with Djibouti and Angola in Africa (Geronimo, 2013). 10 years of education has always been a

debate when it comes to competitiveness with other countries which have 12 or more years of

education and unable to master basic competencies that they need. The mastery of basic

competencies and the age of the youth who have undergone the 10-year basic education were

also things the Department of Education needs to contend to.

To battle the problem of unemployment and par up with the developing countries, The

Department of Education implements the K to 12 Basic Education Program because 10 years

of education is insufficient and is considered congested (SEAMEO, 2013). This initiative by the

Department of Education aims to improve the quality of education and offers an education

system that provides ample time for students to master the needed skills and the basic

competencies that they will need. This program also prepares students in the future by being

eligible to work internationally because they completed the 12-year education which is the global

education standard for companies around the world.

In the Philippines, one thing that everyone has noted of is adding two years in the K to 12

Curriculum. Senior High School will cover the two years in K to 12 whilst Junior high school

(JHS) will replace the 1st year up to 4th year in the secondary education. (Banal-Formoso, 2016).

Upon completion, they will receive a high school diploma. When a student cannot graduate

Grade 12, he/she will miss out the benefits of SHS such as having a job after they graduate

SHS. The adding of two years has been particularly criticized by parents for being “heavy on the
pocket” and for students as “two more years of misery”. Senior High School ensures its

graduates that they can be employed upon graduation depending on the path they choose.

Subjects in the K to 12 Program will be taught by spiral progression. In a lesson, basic

knowledge is first taught and when eventually mastered, links to each lesson which “spirals

upwards” to advanced lessons which build up the study (Johnston, 2014). Through this, students

can pick up knowledge more efficiently because they will not be overwhelmed when an advanced

topic is taught because they already have a good grasp of the knowledge that is needed for the

topic hence improving their skills.

The 2 tracks which are the Academic and Technical-Vocational tracks are further

subdivided into strands. In the Academic track there are four (4) strands which are the Science,

Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Accountancy and Business Management

(ABM), Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS), and General Academic Strand (GAS) and in

the Technical-Vocational track there are also four (4) strands which are Home Economics (HE),

Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Agri-Fisheries Arts, and Industrial Arts. The

other tracks are Sports and Arts and Design.

Senior High is the first step towards the chosen career of the student. There are

many factors affecting the student’s decision. These range from family choice to influence from

friends. The school also plays a big role in the student's selection of a track. Influence can be a

reason why students choose a track that is even not for them. Even students in Grade 11 are

still confused in their choice of track because of the lack of guidance. If a student disliked the

track that he/she took, they can change their track but with consequences. How can they prevent

this from happening? How can a student choose the right track for their future? That is why we
will conduct this research to identify the track preferences of the students and guide them in

choosing the right track. Even before they arrive at SHS, Grade 10 students are into a dilemma

in which track to choose. This led the researchers to do a study on the track preferences of

Grade 10 students. This study aimed to determine the factors that can affect the decision making

of Grade 10 students of San Juan National High School in choosing their track in Senior High

School. This study also aimed to determine what groups of people influencing the decision

making of the respondents.

It is in this light that this research has been undertaken. Specifically, this study intends to

benefit the Grade 10 students of San Juan District. Initially, it aims to awaken them to their crucial

need in choosing their track on Senior High School.

This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the track preferences of Grade 10

students of San Juan National High School.

Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What are the senior high school track references of the respondents?

2. What are the factors affecting the tracks references of the respondents?

3. What can the following crops of people do to influence of the decision making of the

respondents?

a. Parents;

b. Siblings;

c. Teacher;

d. friends

Hypothesis

There is no significant relationship between the profile and the choice of track of Grade

10 students in San Juan National High School in terms of choosing their SHS track.
Importance of the Study

The results of this study will be beneficial to the following:

Grade 10 students. This study will serve as a guide to them in choosing their preferred track

for their upcoming SHS.

Teachers. This will also be beneficial to them who play a big role in shaping students into

successful people, as this study helps them focus more in their mastery to deliver a better

learning experience to future Senior High School students.

San Juan National High School. The results of the study serve them as a guide in

improving their Senior High School tracks for students to had choice in their preferred track.

Parents. They can help their future SHS students in guiding them to the right track for

their children.

Researchers themselves. They will benefit the result of this study to choose their

preferred track.

Future Researchers. They can use this study as reference in helping them in their own

research study.
Review of Related Literature

Decision making is very important in our day to day life because in everything we do, we

always make decisions. One of the most crucial people to decide are the adolescents because

teenagers are unsteady and can easily believe in what they want, not in what should they do.

Some researchers studied factors that may affect the career decision making specific to

the field of study. A study by Aguado and co-workers (2015) showed that students’ personal

choice with parental support affects the level of interest in pursuing maritime program.

There are numbers of decision-making studies have paying attention on an individual

whose members’ role are undifferentiated and still so, as role differentiations can be realistic in

organization, set members will begin to decide members’ roles that control the timing, nature,

and level of their involvement in the decision process. Decision making comprises of one or

more people who therefore, formulates and recommends alternatives that communicates to the

person in the role of decision making

According to the research of LeTendre et al (nd), that talks about how students select

their track. They also study how these students are really capable to their selected track. They

also examine students from their country for that how could they pick their track, it shows that

the result of this examination more student is affected through cultural beliefs by which it was

proven by them.

Researchers observe in their research they have study how they their track and by which

it affects how these students being capable in their chosen track, they also notice that U.S, Japan

and Germany show the same culture of the student. Students are also affected in values and

attitudes in culture.
 Senior High School curriculum in various parts of the world is offered to prepare students

for work or a university life. The World Education News and Reviews (2016) presented various

basic education curriculums in the world. In Taiwan, for example, has three years of either senior

vocational schools or senior high schools made mandatory in 2014. Indonesia also has three

years of Upper Secondary Education (Senior High) with the first curriculum being more

generalist and the last two is either for general academic or vocational stream (WENR, 2014).

High schools in South Korea are divided into general/academic, vocational, and special

purpose curriculum which students are graduating from Middle School can opt to enroll (WENR-

2, 2013). Despite not being compulsory or free, the progression rate is as high as 99%. The

Philippines is relatively new in the implementation of the Senior High program with Grade 11

enrolled during School Year 2016-2017. Its curriculum is patterned to the US secondary schools.

Based on the comparative data for top performing countries, Japan outperformed US in

Mathematics, Science and Reading in the Program for International Student Assessment or

PISA (NCEE, nd).

The Philippines together with Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore have two years of

Senior High while the rest of Southeast Asia has three years (SEAMEO & INNOTECH, nd).

Senior High School curriculum in various parts of the world is offered to prepare students for

work or a university life. The World Education News and Reviews (2016) presented various basic

education curriculums in the world. Taiwan, for example, has three years of either senior

vocational schools or senior high schools made mandatory in 2014. Indonesia also has three

years of Upper Secondary Education (Senior High) with the first curriculum being more

generalist and the last two is either for general academic or vocational stream (WENR, 2014).
 According to Catarroja (nd) the K to 12 system in the country aims to develop the social

and economic progress. This progress is being promoted since Jan 20, 2012, by former

President Benigno Aquino signed a contract by which it is approving the Kto12 system this make

education system better. The kindergarten education law has been started successfully the

Kto12 system. By which all of the country has this system expect for the Philippines. Former

President wants that the education system much suitable to the new students in which students

can have their job when they finish the Kto12. In the Kto12 system the studies are being

enhance. This Kto12 system have lengthen the year for high school students it adds 2 more

years by which we call the students in grade 11to12 as senior high school and some known this

more likely as college students. In Kto12 system you have 4 tracks to choose for these are

academic, technical vocational livelihood, sports and arts design track. This RA 10533 Which is

to expand job opportunity by the reducing job skill for high school graduates.

According to Pascual (2014), students’ first consideration in choosing career path to

pursue is the availability of work after college. Koech et al, (2016) concluded that the students’

social interactions with teachers, parents, and peers affect the students’ career choice. A study

conducted in Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines, showed that gender, average monthly income, school

preference, occupation of the head of the household, and the average scholastic ratings are

associated to the career choice of Grade 9 students (Abarro 2016).

In this article researchers did have read, how is this K-12 system apply to the students

and talks about how can you getting a job when you finished this K-12 system. You can choose

different tracks in the K-12 system by which involve your skills. This K-12 system ensures that

students that can’t go to college can a decent job if they graduated from high school. Student

that can’t choose their proper track and will be correct by basing it to their skills.
 The choice of career of the students is being influenced by some factors from the social

environment, mainly the parents as immediate family who plays an active role in choosing the

right education for their children (Pafili and Mylonakis, nd). As a sign of respect for the parents

and culture of the Filipinos, parents or the elderly are being consulted first by their children

because primarily they will be the one to provide the financial support to enter in college

(Laguador, 2013)

The K-12 system want to secure that all student can have a job. The K-12 system have

lengthened the school year of high school student it adds 2 years. It is not only the main goal of

the K-12 system for you to have decent job but to improve and enhancing your skills.

This reviewed literature contributed facts and results from previous studies that help in

the justification of the present study. Researcher revealed that many individuals especially

students would agree that in deciding on whatever specifically on the course is not easy and

there are many factors that the student will face.

Delimitation of the Study

The study deals with the factors influencing students in choosing Senior High School

tracks at San Juan National High School during the school year 2019-2020. The study was

focused on the grade 10 students of San Juan National High School who are having a hard time

deciding on what track to take.

in their chosen Track

By:

Agas, Maxell F.

Acidera, Arnold S.

Casem, Jhustiniano D.

Casuga, April G.

Chan, Rexon A.

Gelogo, Aubrey C.

Macabando, Sittienor C.

Vergara, Rodeza L.