Influence of Perception in Choosing Senior High School Strand of Grade 10 Students in Sico 1.0 National High School Academic Year 2017-2018

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Students' perception towards a subject is a major consideration in choosing their strands in Senior High School. They opted to choose strands which they think has the easiest subjects where they could get good academic grades. Students experience anxiety at the thought of venturing into strands which lead them to tertiary courses such as Science and Engineering. This study aims to investigate why Senior High School students have an attitude of aversion towards a Mathematics-related subject in Senior High School.

METHODS

The respondents chosen for the study are the one hundred ninety-one (191) Grade 10 students at Sico 1.0 National High School, Academic Year 2017-2018. The tool used in this study was a researcher-made questionnaire-checklist. A quantitative research approach was used. It allowed the researcher to answer questions about the relationships between measured variables with the purpose of explaining, predicting, and controlling certain phenomena.

RESULTS

The students' responses showed a fusing perception of myths and beliefs towards Mathematics wherein they remarked that 1) Mathematics played a role in their lives, 2) they make a conscious effort to study Math topics found to be difficult. Challenges in learning Mathematics influence students in making decisions in their studies. The courses and career that they chose was based on their interest. Students who encountered difficulties in understanding Math concepts and problems perceived that the subject is hard. The students who perceived that Math is a difficult subject avoided strand with Math subjects. They opted to enroll in strands with less or no Math subjects.

DISCUSSIONS

Results reveal that influence of perceptions in choosing a Senior High School strand. A more intense research on the influence of perception in choosing Senior High School strands should be made by future researchers; that other variables should be included such as the academic performance of students and the parents influence; that career guidance should be more intense to tackle queries of students.