Exploring Occupational Interests of Entering Senior High School Students and their Preferred Academic Tracks in K–12 Perspective

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the Occupational Interest and their
Preferred Academic Tracts of Grade 10 students. The study considered
103 Grade 10 students of St. Paul University Philippines for the Academic
Year 2015-2016. The data gathering tools include the Level 2 Career
Interest Inventory and the Senior High Survey Questionnaire on Students’
Preferred Academic Tracks. Results reveal that the top 5 career interests
of students are in areas of Mathematics and Science, Health Services,
Educational Services, Sales and Management. Among the top 5 specific
career areas that the students like are on Mathematics or Sciences,
Health Care, Computer Technology, Marketing or Sales and Electronics or
Electric Traders. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
track (STEM) was the most preferred academic track which comprise
50.5% of them, followed by the ABM track. Data confirmed that 68.9%
exhibited match on their career interests and degree of likeness to the
course, 72.8% of the students have career interests that match their
preferred academic tracks, and degree of likeness to specific career of
about 68% of the students match with their preferred academic track.
The data further reveal that about 30% of the students indicate that still
a significant percentage of students would like to take courses where they
are not interested in and they least prefer. A career guidance program for
senior high school students was developed to address this concern.