RESEARCH: Chapter 1

Research Objectives:

● To help Grade 10 students in EBNHS to know what strand they want for Senior High

School

● To help them choose the strand that matches their interest

1.1 INTRODUCTION

To keep up with other countries in terms of knowledge and competence in different fields, the

Philippines has adopted the K to 12 learning program, which has been the standard education

system in other countries for quite some time now. The said program aims to enhance the

quality of learning of students by adding 2 years to the secondary education level. The

additional 2 years are called Senior High School (SHS), in which students will be allowed to
choose a particular track that is related to the field or profession that they wish to pursue in the

future. Choosing a senior high school strand is one of the most challenging decisions Grade 10

students at EBNHS will have to face.

Making the correct career choice is one of the major decisions that Grade 10 students at

EBNHS face, both in their academic and personal lives. For those students who are influenced

by parents, guardians, teachers, friends, peers, and many others, it is difficult because there are

many factors to consider, especially for the first batch of students in Grades 11 and 12, in which

the K-12 program is fully implemented.

One of the main challenges for Grade 10 students is the K-12 system's improvement of

Philippine education to provide quality basic education opportunities for all students, increasing

the quality of the educational process to senior high school and college levels, as well as

improving the integration of the whole educational system.

Senior high school education in the Philippines has a very important impact on the country’s

national development. The government invested in education in the hope that students would

become globally competitive. To become globally competitive, students must decide what career

path will they pursue shortly. A planned and organized life and career goals can contribute to

their personal and professional growth. However, Western civilization is fond of soliciting advice

from parents, teachers, friends, peers, or idolized figures. When they are confused, they cannot

be able to finalize their decision. Furthermore, they may also consider other important factors

such as the financial status of parents, career opportunities, intellectual capacity, and many

more. For these reasons, this proposal is pursued to investigate the factors of Grade 10

students in EBNHS in making their career choices.

1.2 Background of the study

A "strand" is an area of study under an academic track that senior high school students must

take to prepare for their chosen degree in college. There are many strands for those Grade 10

students who are struggling to choose which strands they want.

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Strand is an approach to

learning and development that integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering, and

mathematics. The difference between the STEM curriculum and the other strands and tracks is

the focus on advanced concepts and topics. Program Outcomes: Under the STEM strand, you

can become a pilot, an architect, an astrophysicist, a biologist, a chemist, an engineer, a dentist,

a nutritionist, a nurse, a doctor, and a lot more. Those who are also interested in marine

engineering should take this track.

The Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) Strand focuses on the basic concepts of

financial management, business management, corporate operations, and all things that are

accounted for. Program Outcomes: The ABM STRAND can also lead you to careers in

management and accounting, which could be as a sales manager, human resources manager,

marketing director, project officer, bookkeeper, accounting clerk, internal auditor, and a lot more.

The Humanities and Social Sciences, or HUMSS strand are designed for those who are ready

to take on the world and talk to a lot of people. This is for you if you are considering taking up

journalism, communication arts, liberal arts, education, and other social science-related courses

offered in college. Program Outcomes: If you take this strand, you could be looking forward to
becoming a teacher, a psychologist, a lawyer, a writer, a social worker, or a reporter someday.

This strand focuses on improving your communication skills.

The TVL strand offers various specializations that can lead to livelihood projects at home. This

strand aims to give you job-ready skills that can help you find the right employment. It generally

prepares you to meet the standard requirement and competency-based assessment of TESDA

as well as hone your readiness for taking up a college degree related to entrepreneurship,

hospitality, and business. Food Management, Nutrition, Culinary Arts, Food Technology,

Tourism, Fashion Management, and Interior Design Program Outcomes: Among the included

subjects in the SHS curriculum for the HE STRAND are courses on bartending, cookery, bread

and pastry, and food and beverage. Housekeeping, caregiving, beauty care, tourism,

handicrafts, and more! This is the SHS track that fits you if you wish to make a career as a

baker, barista stylist, tour guide, therapist, or perhaps set up businesses related to the

aforementioned area of expertise.

With the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) strand, you can learn technical

skills and competencies in accomplishing computing tasks as well as any other tools or

equipment in the digital world. Students on the ICT track engage in activities and learn skills like

generating algorithms, designing program logic and/or writing computer programs, and

illustrating. Implementation of algorithms in chosen programming and designing websites You

will also be taking up technical drafting, animation, and Java programming, which are essential

if you are planning to work in the creative technological field. Program Outcomes: If you step

right into the ICT STRAND, you could take a job as a call center agent, a web designer, a data

encoder, a radio technician, a graphic designer, or a junior programmer. You can also take up
sales positions such as online sales agent and IT sales clerk. These are the STRANDS that

high school students can choose.

The GAS stands for General Academic Strand. Through the GAS, senior high school students

are given exposure to different courses so they can make a more informed decision about their

future career path. GAS is a senior high school strand that takes a generalist approach to

preparing students for college. It covers various disciplines like the humanities, social sciences,

organization, and management. The benefits of GAS to students are always prepared for

college, like scouts on a camping trip. That is if the student already knows what course he'll be

taking upon graduating senior high.

Arts and Design, or AD, is an academic track for students who love making art. This track

includes a broad range of artistic disciplines, including media arts, theater, music, dance, and

creative writing. A degree in art and design covers a variety of visual arts, including graphic

design, painting, and drawing. Students majoring in art and design study fundamental design

concepts, color theory, critical thinking, and artistic methods. Under this strand, you can take

college courses like Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Industrial Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts

Major in Painting, Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Visual Communication, and many more.

1.3 Statement of the problem

The factors of indecision in the career choices of EBNHS Grade 10 students were investigated

in this study. There are different factors that affect students' indecision in making career choices.

One is the family-related factor. According to Pascual (2014), a study revealed that Filipino

immigrants and non-immigrants rely heavily on their family’s decision-making. Very few studies

are made to investigate the success of the career paths used by students in the Philippines,
even the factors that affect career choices. This provides us with limited information on how to

help ourselves identify the proper career options that we want to pursue in the future. Students

are not properly oriented as to what course to choose out of their interest and skills but because

of the thought that these courses will provide jobs in the future. As what Salazar-Clemena, Rose

Marie (2002),as cited by Pascual (2014).

In the Philippines, initiatives for career guidance started when the Philippine government got

alarmed with the growing number of unemployed college graduates and some who got

employed in areas not related to their specialization (Santamaria, J.D. 2008), as cited by Braza

and Guillo (2015). According to Pascual (2014), the unemployment rate in the country is

commonly associated with the misfit graduates produced by universities and colleges and the

workforce needed by different companies. The wrong choice of course taken by most high

school students adds to the unemployment and underemployment rate of newly graduated

students. This study determined the factors affecting the fourth-year high school students’

career preference of University of Rizal System’ Laboratory School in Morong Rizal.” The

students’ lack of career information and wrong decisions was found to be the most contributing

factor to the country’s problem. With the given facts, there is a need for an enhanced

educational system and career guidance activities that will help students choose the appropriate

career based on their interest and competency. The objective of the study is not to identify the

factors affecting their career choice but rather the factors affecting the students’ undecidability. It

is focused more on the reasons why students are incapable of making decision in terms of their

career choices.

1.4 Theoretical Framework

The Importance of Choosing the Right Senior High School Track or Strands for Grade 10

Students in EBNHS Senior High School aims to prepare students before entering college by

equipping them with the global skills, competencies, and knowledge needed to achieve

successful career paths in the future, which means embarking on a new academic journey.

It may seem intimidating at first, especially as you decide which strand to take, but finding the

right track and strand that matches your strengths and skills will surely help ease your nerves

and get you going. Your chosen track and strand will reflect the subjects you will take. The

strands under the Academic Track are Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM),

Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

(STEM). While under TVL, the institution offers Information and Communications Technology

specializing in Programming or Information and Communications Technology specializing in

Animation.

These different tracks, strands, and specializations are intended for you to determine which

paths fit your strengths, passions, and skills. Choosing the right senior high school strand will

help motivate you for your future career. Once you choose a strand you like, studying becomes

more enjoyable since the strands are designed and specialized to match your interests.

Moreover, it expands your knowledge and skills while, at the same time, exposing you to your

chosen field of study in preparation for college. There are many tips on how to choose the right

strand that you think fits you. The first is to do research on the strand or track you want to

pursue, and the second is to consider yourself. Assess your strengths, weaknesses, interests,

and skills that will help lead you to a fruitful academic journey and, even more importantly, a
successful career, and get a piece of advice from your family, peers, and others to help you

weigh the pros and cons of a certain track or strand. In summary, your chosen SHS will help you

pursue your career or strand. Make sure to keep your goals and strengths.

1.5 Conceptual Framework

1.6 Assumptions

The STRAND is an area of study under an academic track that senior high school students

must take to prepare for their chosen degree for SHS. However, there are also some students in

Grade 10 students at EBNHS who don't know what strand or track they want for SHS. It’s either

the track doesn’t fit their skills, they aren’t happy with it, or they’ve chosen it out of peer

pressure. Indeed, choosing “the one” is a tough decision to take. If you don’t want to make this

mistake; your dreams, goals, and aspirations should be aligned with the path you will pursue.

You should also consider your talents, skills, and passion. The purpose of the strand is to inform

the grade 10 students at EBNHS about what strand to take for senior high school and also to

help them find the strand they want. We have four strands, namely the Accountancy Business

Management (ABM); Humanities and Social Sciences Strand (HUMSS); Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Mathematics Strand (STEM), General Academic Strand (GAS),

Technical-Vocational Livelihood (TVL), and Arts and Design (AD). So many students have

difficulty getting the strand they want sometimes because of family, lack of money, friends,

people who socialize inside and outside the house, or sometimes a student is forced to take a

strand not because they want to but because he was pressured or forced to do that.

1.7 Research Questions and Hypothesis

5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS: for grade 10 students in EBNHS

1. What are the factors that affect some of the Grade 10 students in EBNHS in choosing

their strand in SHS?

2. What is the STRAND that grade 10 students in EBNHS want to pursue?

3. Why there are many students don’t know what STRAND they want for SHS?

4. What are the strands in SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL?

5. What is the importance of choosing a strand?

Hypothesis:

These are the factors affecting the Grade 10 students in EBNHS on what to choose for SHS one

are the factors such as (I) socio-economic status, (II) parents, (III) job opportunities, (IV)

academic performance, and (V) personal interests, as well as (VI) level of influence on the

senior high strand preferences. We have different strands of what we want to pursue in SHS,

and sometimes it changes as the time comes. Many grade 10 students in EBNHS don’t know

what strand they want for SHS sometimes because of the five factors in their life and because

they sometimes don't want to think about what strand they will get when SHS comes. The
importance of choosing a strand is it will help you to determine what course you want for SHS

(Senior High School), and studying will become more enjoyable since the strands are designed

and specialized to match your interests.

The strand for Grade 10 students to pursue is:

1. Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS)- This strand is for those students who want to

pursue college courses such as Education, Political Science, AB English or Literature, Mass

Communication, Theater Arts, and other related career paths. 

2. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)- If the career that you want to pursue is

related to the Science and Mathematics field, then you must take STEM. This strand is quite

challenging and at the same time enjoyable for you will be able to experience hands-on

learning. This strand is for those who want to pursue Engineering, Medical Courses, AB Math,

Information Technology, and the like.

3. Accounting Business and Management (ABM)- Related courses are Business Administration,

Tourism Management, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Accountancy, Real Estate

Management, Entrepreneurship, and all courses related to business and management.

4. General Academic Strand (GAS)- If you are not yet sure of which career path to walk on, we

suggest that you take the General Academic Strand. This strand offers courses that are related

to all fields. You will be able to experience a variety of learning experiences to explore the

different interesting fields which you can study in college. The General Academic Strand is for

all types of courses.

5. TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL-LIVELIHOOD TRACK- The Technical-Vocational-Livelihood

(TVL) track gives you the TESDA National Certificate once you finished any of the strands

under it. If you want to pursue working after Senior High School, this strand will surely give you

a gateway to finding a job for skilled people. Even without seeking college, through the TVL

track, you will gain skills that can be considered job-ready.

6. Arts and Design, or AD, is an academic track for students who love making art. This

track includes a broad range of artistic disciplines, including media arts, theater, music,

dance, and creative writing. A degree in art and design covers a variety of visual arts,

including graphic design, painting, and drawing. Students majoring in art and design

study fundamental design concepts, color theory, critical thinking, and artistic methods.

Under this strand, you can take college courses like Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in

Industrial Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Painting, Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in

Visual Communication, and many more.

1.8 Scope and Delimitations of the study

This study is to focus on the grade 10 students at EBNHS (Eastern Bacoor National High

School) and their decisions upon pursuing courses that are related to their strand or not. We are

trying to discover the factors or reasons why those grade 10 students in EBNHS what strand

they want for SHS (Senior High School). This research only focuses on the grade 10 students

enrolled at EBNHS (Eastern Bacoor National High School). This research aims to help grade 10

students in EBNHS to choose what strand they want for SHS (Senior High School) in terms of

what they want to pursue their senior high school.

The academic track is further divided into six strands: Accountancy, Business, and Management

(ABM), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Humanities and Social

Sciences (HUMSS), and General Academic Strand (GAS), Technological-Vocational Livelihoood

(TVL), and Arts and Design (AD). The basic understanding for "strand" is that it is a consistent

thread running through a course offer, irrespective of its subject content. STRAND is to help us

know what track we want for SHS, once you choose a strand you like, studying becomes more

enjoyable since the strands are designed and specialized to match your interests. Moreover, it

expands your knowledge and skills, while at the same time, exposing you to your chosen field of

study in preparation for college. The advantages of choosing a strand you like is it will help

motivate you for your future career and the disavantages of choosing a strand is in career

selection, students have to undergo an intricate process, where they should consider factors

that would affect their overall decision, such as the sociodemographic profile, socio-economic

status, parents’ job, opportunities, academic performance, personal interest, and many other

aspects to forcefully be open-minded of the things they will encounter in the not too distant

future.

Oftentimes, this leads to confusion, doubts, and undecidedness that results in unemployment

and underemployment if, unfortunately, they misfit their pursued career. The student form grade

10 EBNHS will take 2 years to be able to maximize the specific time frame when choosing a

strand or track for their SHS. The most beneficial under the strand aprroach of the DepEd is the

Grade 10 students and teachers in Eastern Bacoor National High School. For now, we can’t

really see what is the impact of the STRAND on education in the Philippines, but we can see its

impact on education for quite some time and also see the impact of k-12 to the students in

Grade 10 studenst at EBNHS.

1.9 Limitation of the study

This study has some limitations in taking the difficult strand that doesn’t fit student’s talent, skills,

or passion may result to some of the students’ inability to apply the lessons in the real world.

Sometimes, they may just lack the confidence in choosing the said strand. Lack of confidence

builds uncertainty and failure, leading to more problems. Students who freeze at the sight of

numbers or equations will most certainly underperform. Few elementary teachers are qualified

to teach in the areas of math or science. Most school systems do not teach integrated

curriculums, therefore teachers do not know how to integrate. The choice of strand of the

students plays a great role in the preparation of the program for the Senior High School. Most

significant effects in disinclination on choice of strand include the poor performance and

dissatisfaction. In addition, students enrolled in wrong choice of strand experienced low level of

involvement, unable to concentrate, and are not able to enjoy some the subjects to the point of

quitting.

1.10 Significance of the study

This research is to focus on Grade 10 students in EBNHS to let them know what is the basic

understanding in strand is and to help them know what strand they want for SHS. This research

is important and needed by the grade 10 students because It helps them acquire new skills and

improve their technical proficiency which is of utmost importance to survive in a dynamic

marketplace. These strand’s also give professionals an edge from the perspective of career

growth as it reflects an attitude of constantly wanting to learn and get better. One is witnessing a
trend of combining soft skills with technical skills to bring in differentiation. To help them prepare

for their SHS and College life for choosing a strand.

1.11 Definition of terms

EBNHS - Eastern Bacoor National High Scool

SHS - Senior High School

Strand - a strand is an area of study under an academic track that senior high school students

must take to prepare for their chosen degree in college.

Curriculum - The subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.

K-12 - Generally, elementary and secondary school grades kindergarten through grade

12 (K-12) are required, after which a student may choose to attend college or university.

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● Pascual, N.T. Factors Affecting High School Students’ Career Preference: A Basis for

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● Santamaria, J.D. (2008) Career Planning Workbook, 5th Edition, Philippines,Career

System Inc.

● Braza, R.M.S. Guillo Jr. RM. Socio- Demographic Characteristics and Career Choice of

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