Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter provides an overview of research addressing the relationship

between the students’ decision making on their choice of strand and preferred college

course. The focus of this chapter is to tackle about the studies and other relevant literature

connected with this subject. This review aims to identify researches and works from time

to time with same topics, authors and researches in different fields.

Related Literature

A. Foreign

Decisions about the students' college courses is perhaps the biggest dilemma of a

particular graduating high school student. There are lots of factors influencing their

choices. One of these factors is the curriculum. Vertical alignment is best known as one

of the successful techniques to use when it comes to students' performance, according to

the Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Investment (CCSRI) in the United

States. It helps students the most because it provides a clear pattern for the topics to be

taught to them. As a result, the number of times a topic is covered in a course or year is

reduced, and the number of times a subject is reviewed is reduced. However, optimizing

this form of structured approach takes a lot of planning because it involves a collective

effort from the school, parents, and students (The Holmes Educational Post, 2012).

Saysay (2011) claims that students' college course selection is affected by a

number of factors. One of them is the influence of family members. Filipino immigrants

and non-immigrants simultaneously depend heavily on their family's decision-making,

according to a report. Students cope up by listening to their parents. They still have to
endure with the expectation of being able to help their families financially after they

complete their studies. Studies from other Asian countries also show parents’ impact in

decision making of students when it comes to students’ course preference.

One of the roles of guidance and counseling is to make it possible for an

individual to see and explore his or her unlimited endowed options. Vocational guidance

counseling, one of the major services of guidance and counseling is to come up with

career development program which enables guidance counselors to assist individuals to

identify and learn the skills by which they can be more effective in planning for and in

choosing jobs, in making effective transitions and adjustments to work and in managing

their own careers and career transitions effectively. He further added that the National

Career Development Association (NCDA) in the United States in 1993 noted that

“Helping individuals increase self-understanding of their abilities, interests, values and

goals is a vital foundation of the career development process”

The researchers include some different factors on what influences a student's

career choice. These influences are unique in every individual and dependent upon the

given situation.

Parents may deliberately or accidentally push their child towards a specific career

path, especially in the instances of a family reputation or business, where they assume

that their child will take over. However, other parents apply pressure on their child to

strive for particular prominent careers, with a feeling that they are encouraging them to a

better life decision. Some parents on the other hand, expect their child to follow the path

that was already made and disregard the dreams and passion.
The choice of career of the students is being influenced by the social environment,

specifically the parents who play a significant role in choosing the right education for

their children (Pafili & Mylonakis, 2015).

Supporting the idea of Pfili and Mylonakis, K-L Saysay's study titled "A

qualitative study on Pilipino Americans students relative to their high school success and

career choices'' in 2015, explained that students cope by following their parents' advice.

They also have to cope with an expectation of financially supporting the family upon

completing their education. Studies from the asian countries also show parents' impact in

decision-making of the students when it comes to students' career preference.

Influence of Friends and Peers. Peer pressure is common among learners. There

are those who decide on what career they are to pursue based on the opinion or choice of

their friends.

Based on a critical analysis of (Naz, et al., 2014), they concluded that potential

friends and peers are potential sources of positive relations towards education, job search

and even joining a social or political organization.

B. Local

The last two years of the K to 12 program are added to the curriculum as a result

of the adoption of Republic Act (RA) 10533 or the K-12 program. Students are provided

mastery skills in preparation for their potential tasks in the actual workplace by having an

additional two years in high school. Former President Benigno S. Aquino III (2013)

claims that the law will help empower the next generation of Filipinos. Furthermore, the

Higher Education Act of 1994 and the Commission on Higher Education claimed that

students could apply to any college course regardless of which track they had selected
and completed. The Department of Education, on the other hand, advises potential

students and SHS pioneers to match their course to the future career path of their choice,

as this will provide them with a sketch of their course and amplify their skills and

preparation for their future subjects, giving them more practices and expertise, making

them more active and globally competitive.

In our county's previous system, high school education lasted from the first to the

fourth year. Those four years are now known as junior high school or JHS, and they

correspond to Grades 7 to 10. It should be remembered that “senior high” no longer refers

only to the senior year of high school, but also to the two grades below it. Similarly,

"junior high" refers to the four grade levels below senior high, not just the year preceding

the final year of high school.

Students must therefore complete Kindergarten, Grades 1 to 6 (elementary

school), Grades 7 to 10 (Junior high school), and Grades 11 to 12 (Senior high school)

under Republic Act No. 10533, or the Improved Basic Education Act of 2013. Before a

student will earn his or her high school diploma, all of this must be achieved in 13 years.

Students would have to choose from four senior high strands or tracks when they

enroll in senior high school. Choosing the right strand is one of the most critical decisions

a student in the Philippines would have to make, so keep reading to learn how to make

the best decision possible.

Since K-12 was recently introduced in the Philippines, the researchers want to

conduct this study to serve as a guide for incoming students to better match their strands

to the college course that they want to follow and to be effective for the Philippines'

socio-economic growth and advancement. Students are expected to be effective,

successful, and globally competitive in various ways as a result of its implementation.

The program also encourages Senior High School students to operate without a degree,

allowing them to contribute to the country's socioeconomic development early on (Santos

et. al., 2019).

Accounting and Business Management (ABM), Humanities and Social Sciences

and Science (HUMSS), and Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (TEM) are three

of the four strands offered in the Academic track at College of the Holy Spirit of Tarlac

(STEM). Until students join their chosen universities, CHST is regarded as an important

training ground. This institute makes certain that their students are well-prepared for their

exams. Various events are held to assist and direct students in imagining their future

careers. This institute makes certain that their students are well-prepared for their exams.

Various events are held to assist and direct students in imagining their future careers.

Seashore (1962) in his work, Your Goals and You: A Guidance Handbook,

mentions that dreams and aspirations of young people adopt a cyclical trend. In the

course of their ambition and dream, they go through phases and changes that range from

practicality to idealism. However, it is undeniable that there is one simple aspect that

determines a child's future career, and that is the schooling and workload that they are

subjected to in their daily lives. Following that, they must perform their talents in a

certain way in order to improve their strengths.

High school subjects (primarily Science, English, and Mathematics, as well as

foreign languages, arts, and Social Studies) serve as the foundation for the student's

current course. More awareness in these areas will ultimately help the pupil, as they will

be better able to understand all of the lessons they will encounter.

 Students who engage in a variety of extracurricular activities, such as

volunteering and participating in sports, are more likely to exhibit positive characteristics

such as leadership and cooperation within their team, respect for oneself and others,

devoting oneself to one's duties, and so on.

Shukla (2009) in her article mentions certain advantages of teenagers in choosing

a career on their own: it makes them more autonomous, they are more accountable for

their decisions, they are more conscious of the pitfalls of a specific occupation, they are

more prepared to face the repercussions of a bad career choice rather than blaming their

parents, and they choose what they enjoy the most. Disadvantages of choosing a

profession on one's own: teenagers are clueless, impulsive, and indecisiveness may cause

them to make rash decisions, succumb to social pressures, and know in a variety of ways.

Some people claim that teens are too young to make their own career choices. Parents, in

particular, are worried for their children's welfare. Teenagers, on the other hand, are

revolting against excessive parental intervention and guidance in today's world.

One of the most difficult issues facing graduating high school students is deciding

on their courses. There are several factors that influence their decisions. The curriculum

is one of these variables. Students who choose to pursue higher education in order to

advance their studies and, ideally, obtain better employment after graduation have been

hit particularly hard by today's challenging economy. However, numerous obstacles

frequently obstruct this path, and this challenge is frequently posed by a single object:

money.

In addition to those already mentioned, there are several other personal factors

that can contribute to the preference of a student. Anything perceived or some beliefs can
be influential, but either way you approach it finding a major that is consistent with the

student’s beliefs, values, morals or interests will promote greater academic satisfaction.

Clearly the personal interests of an individual play an integral part is decision-making,

however it is important to keep in mind how the interests of the students are established

and how their personalities are developed. Understanding that an individual is shaped by

the people around them is also crucial to the process.

A college program's curriculum is critical to a student's learning progress.

Secondary and tertiary curriculum structures and standards, as well as performance

indicators, all affect college progress. Students benefit from vertically oriented education,

despite the fact that it needs systematic effort. Job viability, personal interests, family

preferences, and financial status are all factors that affect college course selection.

(Jacolbia et al., 2018)

The majority of people who want to get a college diploma won't have to think

about training. Despite all of this passion and excitement, the fact remains that not all

students can afford the course they want. The problem is that their financial security

limits their options, pushing them to follow a more practical path.

Related Studies

A. Foreign

In the study of Pafili and Mylonakis (2011) entitled "Occupation Structure and

Career Choice vs Education Development and Training Level,” it is stated that by making

the right decision about what profession to pursue, students must properly utilize their

skills and knowledge to attain proper experience that can contribute to the advancement

and welfare of society. According to their study, one must know their strengths and
weaknesses for them to know what path they will take. To achieve good-decision

making, students should consider their interests and intellectual ability they acquire from

their strand hence, that they can discern what course to take in college. The K to 12

Program administers a curriculum that will guide the Senior High School students to have

a broader outlook for higher education. Their chosen strand will guide them in nurturing

their future. The way students comprehend their future can also influence their career

choice.

The student should also consider the factors that might affect his or her

preferences in choosing a good college course. According to the study of Kazi

and Akhlaq (2017) entitled as "Factors Affecting Students' Career Choice,

Journal Research and Reflections in Educations,” an individual environment,

talents, skills, and academic achievements exert an influence on career choice.

The home environment is also an influence on the student's preferred college

courses, as it yields the foundation of a child’s character. Other studies have

found that a child's career path is influenced by his or her parents' attitudes

and the influence of the home environment. In the event of a poor decision, it

may result in failure and discouragement.

Each student must decide on their career at some point in their lives. According to

Oladele (as cited in Nyarko-Sampson 2013), it is requisite for students to make the

correct choice. They will become more poised, firm, and invested with a pleasant

demeanor in life. As an outcome, it will lead to the conception of a better foundation for

society. Career decisions are performed with inappreciable consideration for the actual

environment. As a result, counselors can play an important role in guiding them to make
informed decisions. It is critical to be interested in a particular profession when making a

decision. When a learner is coerced into a profession, he or she may form low self-esteem

and work unsuccessfully.

It was stated by Eremie and Okwulehie in 2018, that the elements like ecological,

opportunity, and character can impact the decision of profession among secondary school

students. As far as natural factors, it reveals that family, financial status, and companion

bunches affect the students' decision of profession while in promising circumstance

factors, for example, training and mentorship additionally had an impact to the decision

of a career as the character factors like the understudies' advantage, qualities, and abilities

in picking their courses.

According to the investigation of Hoai, Thi, and Thanh in 2016, factors impacting

understudies a decision of bookkeeping as significant shows that accepted practice

impacts students’ decision of major including counsel and direction of associates,

companions, instructors, guardians which affected their choices in the choice of explicit

control. It additionally uncovered some critical contrasts between the normal degree of

male and female understudies through the impression of information scores, significant

pressing factors, and appropriateness for individuals great at math, work accessibility,

normal pay, and headway opportunity.

Uyar, Gungormus, and Kuzey in 2011 said that there are 12 components

influencing the choices of the learners and this includes vocation openings, premium in

the subject, teacher, cash, guardians, happiness, past experience, way of life offered as a

result of the vocation, challenge, notoriety, helpfulness in working a business, and

different understudies. It moreover finds the main 5 explanations behind picking a

significant where: interest in a profession related with the major, great job openings,

capacities, a craving to maintain a business sometime in the not-so-distant future, and

extended income in the connected vocation. The least chose explanations behind picking

a significant were the standing of the major at the college, the apparent nature of

guidance, the parent's impact, the sum and kind of limited-time data, and the impact of

companions. Used factor investigation and decided the accompanying seven fundamental

variables in choosing profession decision: high-profit assumptions, profession

assumptions, professional training, information and capacity, family climate, economic

well-being, and instructive climate.

B. Local

Denis and Carmela (2018) study, “Students' Academic Performance, Aptitude and

Occupational Interest in the National Career Assessment Examination,” assessed the

students' academic performance, occupational interest, and aptitude on the National

Career Assessment Examination (NCAE), as well as predictors of performance. The

administration launched this initiative in order to provide a research-based Senior High

School curriculum that meets the needs of students at Central Mindanao Laboratory High

School. The NCAE results from the Department of Education were gathered, coded,

analyzed, and interpreted, as were the grades of students from the laboratory high school

records-in-charge. The results of this research project were built on data collected over a

three-year period. Students had better general scholastic aptitude but poor entrepreneurial

ability, according to descriptive statistics based on NCAE results. Students' occupational

preferences were extremely diverse, ranging from highly preferred to least preferred.

Students had a mild preference for a career in science. The majority of the students had
no particular profession in mind. According to the correlation, creativity was not

associated with student academic achievement, while the rest of the factors, such as

general scholastic aptitude, technical-vocational ability, non-verbal ability, logical

reasoning ability, and entrepreneurial abilities, were all positively correlated.

Mathematical ability, verbal ability, and logical reasoning ability were all found to be

predictors of academic performance in stepwise linear regression analysis.

Ouano, et al. (2019) study, “Factors Influencing on Grade 12 Students’ Chosen

Courses in Jagobiao National High School,” reported that making a career decision is a

pivotal moment in every student's life. Before making a decision, students must consider

a number of factors. The goal of this study was to look into the factors that influence

students' career choices. The impact of identified factors such as decision-making and

interest, peer influence, institutional considerations, and future work opportunities on the

career choices of 90 students at Jagobiao National High School was examined in this

study. Researchers used a chi-square as a research tool to formulate the collected data,

which was collected through a survey questionnaire. The findings reveal that institutional

considerations are the most important, followed by decision-making and interest, peer

influence, and future job opportunities.

Moldes, et al. (2019) study entitled, “Students, Peer Pressure and their Academic

Performance in School,” concluded that adolescents are more likely to be subjected to

peer pressure at school. Peer pressure is classified into four categories: social belonging,

curiosity, cultural-parenting orientation of parents, and education. This study used a

descriptive correlation research design. The survey was conducted among Senior High

School students by the researchers. The survey received 96 responses in total. Chi-square
was used to process quantitative data. The findings will reveal a link between peer

pressure perceptions and social belonging, curiosity, parental cultural-parenting

orientation, and educational attainment. In general, students are encouraged to approach

peer pressure with optimism in order to cope with the negative effects of peer pressure on

their studies. When it comes to peer pressure, students may take a positive or negative

approach. The teacher may be able to guide and assist them in dealing with the issues.

Pascual (2014) presented that the availability of work after finishing college is

mainly considered by the high school students and then followed by choosing the course

as a personal choice. The peer’s preference of course and consideration of family

business was considered the least factor that affects the decision in choosing college

course. Most of the student-respondents preferred scientific courses which includes

engineering and statistics courses. The aforementioned study was supported by a study in

Our Lady of Peace in Antipolo (Martin et. al, 2010) which have the same result as to

Pascual’s study that relies the decision-making of students in work viability. However, it

displays the exclusion of the majority's personal ability in order to get the "in-demand"

job of the generation. This kind of factor may have a misfit for the job and a low level of

competency since it is not the job in which they match their abilities. The problem is that

if a large amount of graduates come only on a few courses that has fulfilled the amount

given for job vacancies, there could be a problem for the remaining number of

unemployed fresh graduates of the same courses.

Alba, et. al (2010) determined that the main factors that are affecting a student's

choice for their college course are the following: (a.) the financial stability of the family

that sometimes make students' confused whether to take courses they want or to settle
with something that their parents can afford, and (b.) interference of parents in their

college course decision-making because sometimes it is because of the first reason or

because of the college they've been to and the path that they want their children to take.

They somehow control the student’s path and sometimes what is worse is that they are

too controlling that their assessment for their children is becoming incorrect.

A study from Roosevelt College, San Mateo (Fernando et. al, 2016) found out that

the parents’ influence, personal choice, job opportunity and peer influence can affect the

student’s decision on their choice of college course. The researchers concluded that the

students look not only at their personal choice, but also at the decision of their parents,

peers, and the availability of the job as their guide in choosing their undergraduate

program. Job opportunity is the said highest weighted mean in the study and the

researchers concluded that this factor greatly affects the students’ choice in choosing

what college course they will take up. The study has shown that the students tend to

analyze if the course they will choose can improve their skills and if it can put them in a

highly paid profession.

In the Philippines, the low academic adjustment of college students of Pampanga

Agricultural College results in poor academic achievement (Calaguas, 2011). It was

reported in the study of Hernandez (2017) that first-year students from the selected

higher-education institutions in Calapan City have poor social adjustment. They can

easily adjust to college life in terms of academics, attachment to school, and emotional.

Still, it takes them a while to be socially adjusted. While there is a current interplay

among academic adjustment, performance, and drop out in the country, the Philippine

education system is also challenged to be at par with the global education arena. In light
of this, the country adopted the K-12 primary education Education and Management

March 2020 3 curriculum last 2016 through the Republic Act 10533. This curriculum

expands the four-year secondary education to a six-year junior and senior high school.

One of the unique features of the curriculum is the ability of the students to choose a

strand in senior high school. The senior high school strand contains subjects that prepare

the students in their career in college and industry. Thus, the choice of senior high school

strand is of great importance; however, the students may take a college degree which is

not aligned with the strand taken in senior high school (i.e. non-STEM students taking

dentistry). Previous researches explored the difference of adjustment among college

students in different year levels (Jain, 2017), among male and female secondary school

students (Panth, Chaurasia, & Gupta, 2015), among male and female senior high school

students (Kaur & Chawla, 2016), and among students in different higher education

institutions (Hernandez, 2017). However, there is a lack of research examining the

difference of adjustment in the Philippine higher education institutions, especially in

health science courses. Also, there is a dearth of research about the influence of strand

taken during senior high school on the academic adjustment of freshmen. To the best of

the author’s knowledge, there are no existing studies which examined the moderating

effect of senior high school strand on the relationship between academic adjustment and

performance among Filipino freshmen college students. To address the immense need to

strengthen the health workforce, as influenced by graduation rate of health sciences

students, dropout rate, academic adjustment, and performance, this study is focused to

determine the difference in the academic adjustment and performance of first-year

students in the health sciences courses in the Philippines. In addition, the study seeks to
determine the moderating effect of senior high school strand on the relationship between

academic adjustment and performance among Filipino freshmen college students. The

results of the study may serve as quality indicator in the implementation of the K-12

primary education curriculum. As the country is taking a great leap in providing the best

education to its students, the present study may be used as reference in the formulation of

academic policies and guidelines in both secondary and tertiary education systems.

Theoretical Framework

The study is anchored from the Vertical Alignment Theory that assumes a clear,

direct, and linear relationship between the concepts transferred to learners in various

levels of the learning process (Kurz, Talapatra, & Roach, 2012). A vertically aligned

curriculum involves teaching lessons and courses to students in order to prepare them for

the next level of education. According to the theory, instruction is intentionally structured

and logically sequenced so that students learn the knowledge and skills that will

gradually prepare them for more difficult, higher-level work (Kurz et al., 2012).

Moreover, the vertical alignment theory contends that the misalignment between the

Verticalis Alignment
senior high strand and college course Theory
a phenomenon which could disrupt the learning

progression of the students.

Chosen Strand and
Preferred Course
 Figure 1. Theoretical Framework

This theoretical framework depicts that the alignment of lessons that a student

gets has direct connections with their chosen strands and preferred courses. This suggests

that the sequence of proper academic levels and their categories like strands and

programs are highly relevant to whether a student can fully utilize their learnings in the

next academic level in the education system’s sequence. This can furthermore affect their

academic learnings and external factors if the lessons are not linear or not in connection

in terms of the specifications needed in the fundamental level. In connection to this

research, the misalignment of senior high school strands to preferred college courses can

cause inconsistency in the academic gains of a student, and can further cause problems in

their careers as the result of the failure to properly transfer the required learnings in

accord to senior high school strands and the suggested college courses to follow. Senior

high school strands need to be connected with specific appropriate college courses in

order for their previous learnings to be practiced and transferred to the lessons in college

courses. The compatibility of a strand and a course should be taken into consideration

when deciding for a college course because the compatibility itself can impact their

performance and
Students’ Transferred External Factors
Learnings understanding of their

college lessons, which

later on can result to consequences in career pathways. If the Vertical Alignment Theory
of this theoretical framework is applied, the success of learnings garnered by the senior

high school students will rely solely on the compatibility of their chosen senior high

school strands to their preferred college courses.

Conceptual Framework

This part contains the model of the study illustrating variables that specify the

problem and give direction to the study as well.

Grade 12 Students of CHST

a. Current Strand
b. Preferred Career
Pathway

Factors Affecting Choice of Factors Affecting Choice of

Strand: College Course:
 Financial Income  Financial Income
 Employment Opportunities  Employment Opportunities
 Peer Influence  Peer Influence
 Family Influence  Family Influence
 Academic Performance  Academic Performance
 NCAE Results  NCAE Results
 Availability of College  Availability of College
Courses Courses

Implication of the Study to

Research

Figure 2. Paradigm of the Study

 Figure 1 shows the process of the study, the paradigm. It shall root from the

respondents who will be described according to their current strand and preferred career

pathway. The two main components of the study are strand and college course. The

researchers will be aiming to see what factor mostly affects the students’ strand choice

and career preferences. With that, they will be able describe the relationship between the

two main components, and how they shall affect each other.