Future Step Up, Mismatch No More: A Proposed Scheme in Aligning Senior High School Students' Career Preference

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

This undertaking revealed the career track preference and the factors which are influential in the choice of career among senior high school students with the hope of developing an effective career planning program for them.

METHODS

This descriptive correlational research made use of a questionnaire to determine the career preference and the factors affecting the career preference of Grade 12 students at Malvar Senior High School. Stratified random sampling technique was applied to determine the sample from a population of 258 Grade 12 students enrolled under the academic track. The statistical procedures used to interpret the data were frequency and percentage, weighted mean, standard deviation, and chi-square.

RESULTS

Most of the preferred careers of the students are the "popular" or well-known careers in the area of Engineering, Commerce, and Military Training, while the least favored are careers related to Spiritual Vocation, Environment, and Agriculture. Data also revealed that the careers suited to the respondents from the NCAE results are also the careers which are popular among them. The respondents consider economic factors, careers related to their favorite subject and talent, location of future work, financial status of the family, and the school they plan to enroll in college as a primary concern in deciding for a career in the future. The influence of other people does not affect the respondents' choice of career.

DISCUSSIONS

Economic viability is considered by students in deciding for a career, thus popular or in demand courses may attract big number of enrollees which may result to a surplus of misfit graduates. Peer factor is least considered by the respondents in choosing a career; students nowadays exercise independent decision making when it comes to choosing their career. There is a significant relationship between the preferred career of the respondents and the suited career for them as revealed by their NCAE results, thus NCAE results may potentially determine students' career choices.