Grade 9and 10 Agricultural Career Perception: Basis for Diversified Farming Perspectives

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Education recognized the significance of agriculture in the growing economy of the Philippines. Comprising a land area of an estimated 30 million hectares where 47% of which is agricultural, the prime developmental goal of the government focused on economic engaging these land masses. This existing reality does not seem to align students' common cognizance on agriculture and farming. There seem to be misleading and diverting ideas on how agriculture works. The research assesses the students' perception of agricultural career and suggests a program essential to establish a better view of the sector of agriculture.

METHODS

The research is descriptive design. The researchers gathered the perception of the students through a researcher-made questionnaire. The samples were from grade 9 and grade 10 students taking up agriculture in Technology and Livelihood Education subject. The research is anchored on Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory that focuses on self-system as a major predictor of the career orientation of students. The research focused on the perception of students on careers in agriculture.

RESULTS

The results showed that respondents slightly agreed, with the mean score of 4.03, that agriculture offers wide career options. Likewise, respondents slightly agreed, with the mean score of 4.00, that agriculture demonstrated high physical demand. In terms of positive household economic assurance (4.22), respondents slightly agreed that agriculture offers good income generation. As to the high professional decency with the mean score of 4.45, respondents showed agreement.

DISCUSSIONS

The results can be attributed to students' attitude towards specific subjects, education, and academics in general (Bowen et al, 2000). Agriculture is generally equated with farming alone and this decisive impression brought the negative perception of careers in agriculture among high school students. In the Philippines, wherein about half of the labor force involved in agriculture, it will directly impact the economy and growth of the country. In contrast to the result, where agriculture shows high professional decency, a study published in Journal of agricultural education, the result indicated that careers in agriculture were not offering what the students perceived to be important in their own career choices. The widespread notion of agricultural career brought the average age of farmers to 56 years old from former 55 years old. This increment was brought by the shunning of today's generation on succeeding the farm works.