Introduction

Education is the key to success. As the Philippines open a door for improvement and

development, the Department of Education strives harder to mold the Filipinos in their best version as

they become globally competitive and be ready in different challenges in life such us job, business and

etc. Last 2012, former President Benigno Noynoy Simeon Aquino III signed a proposal about the new

education curriculum K to 12 Program. The K-12 Program means Kindergarten to Grade 12 Grade 1

to Grade 6 (Elementary), Grade 7 to Grade 10 (Junior High School) and Grade 11 and Grade 12 (Senior

High School). This program includes new lessons and new activities which are student-centered. Senior

High School is the additional two years of education in high school in order for the students develop

their decision on what course they will take when the tertiary education comes, and through this

additional two years; the students can be more competent in their daily lives. Since that there are

already students in Grade 12, it only means that the new curriculum in the Philippines has been tested

but not yet proven. Senior High School Curriculum is a central interest of the country since it is new to

the system of education and it is a new road towards development of the Philippines. After the

proclamation of the K-12 Program, many of the people have reacted and through this, it became

interesting in the part of the students, the parents, the teachers, the school, and the government or the

administration. This is relevant because it is timely and currently happening in the country and it is

important because we are talking about the future of our country, as Dr. Jose P. Rizal stated, The youth

is the hope of our future.

According to Prince Edward Island (2016), senior high school is a form of new curriculum which

intends to enhance the mental, physical, and cultural growth of a student in one accord to their personal

interests as they transfer from junior high school. They believe that in providing good education to

youths will give them a better place in the society. In addition, Barnachea (2017) said that students have
their rights to choose on what field they want to specialize according to their natural ability or aptitude,

and school capacity. Since that K to 12 covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education, she believes

that the time suffices in order to develop a lifelong learners and to master their skills. Moreover, Sierras

and Papa (2016) stated that the experiences of a senior high school student are a mix of anxiety and

excitement.

However, senior high school may be good to hear since it is new and its for the betterment of

the Filipinos and the Philippines itself. There are a lot of problems and shortcomings happened. Tabora

(2013) stated that the serious problems with the senior high school are over congestion of curriculum,

wrong perspective of the administration regarding the Tec-Voc track, and the flexibility of the educators

transferring from a junior high school curriculum to senior high school program.

In the problems of the implementation of K-12, Tabora (2013) only stated the three points

which is somehow specific. He has a shortcoming to the problem and not stated about the facilities and

other materials that a student would use during the said curriculum. In contrary of what Sierra and Papa

(2016) statement about the strictness of parents when a student reaches senior high school, it never

becomes less because parents are still parents, and you are still you. However, they have said that in

senior high school it is a new world wherein you are capable to meet new people and gain new

experiences. In addition, the experience of students about freedom on what to wear is a good example

that they are now somehow a college student.

The research seeks about the experiences of a student in the new curriculum specifically in the

senior high school in order to discover what the problems are and the improvements happened before,

during, and after the said curriculum since the topic is timely and relevant. In this study, many of the

people will benefit such as the students, parents, teachers, and the school administration since that they

are the affected persons in the new curriculum of education. Through this study, they will know what
has been done after the testing of this new program. The researcher used a qualitative-exploratory

design to be supported by its methodology using a semi-structure interview. The researchers will

conduct a presentation using the information gathered on what are the experiences of the students by

having the K to 12 Program. The respondents will be the students of senior high school Grade 12 in

Meycauayan National High School.

Review of Related Literatures

The paper gives a closer view on the papers related literature, significant theoretical underpinnings and

a brief survey of related studies on the different experiences of students in Senior High School. These

will provide the bases for the systematic analyses of data that will form the findings, conclusions and

recommendations of the study.

In the six years of existence of K-12 Program, problems had aroused on its implementation.

Research has distinguished that those problems were the over-congestion of curriculum, incorrect

perception in Tec-Voc Track, and the flexibility of the educators transferring from a junior high school

curriculum to senior high school program (Tabora, 2013). What is important is not that the student has

gone through a required number of hours in vocational training, but that the student actually have that

skills required by industry (Inocensio in Tabora, 2013). In addition, the Carlos Hilado Memorial State

College: Graduate School (2016) explained issues regarding K-12 Curriculum. These issues were focused

on what might happen during the program; failure information dissemination, two years is an added

burden to parents, retrenchment of teaching and nonteaching staff, not all high schools offered and

qualified for senior high school, high student-teacher ratio and lack and unconducive classrooms, rushed

teachers trainings & lack of materials, and errors in textbooks.

 Alliance of the Concerned Teachers (ACT) said the additional two years in the four years of high school is

an additional cost to parents. A parent does not only spend money in tuition but also in transportation,

school projects and food, said France Castro, secretary general of ACT. Most of the parents are not aware

of the details of this program, including the financial burden it would bring them," said Professor Rene Luis

Tadle, head of Coalition for K to 12 Suspension. (p. 8)

However, the Prince Edward Island School Program (2016) discussed about the purposes and a

goal of Senior High School (SHS) wherein having a meaningful position in a society is enumerated.

Therefore, SHS Curriculum is also for the betterment of the educational program of a country. Since, SHS

is a new curriculum in the Philippines, it is also a new way on how the students will gain more

experiences and the chance to meet new people carrying knowledge that may influence each student

(Sierras & Papa, 2016).

The program also aims to develop the skills and decision-making of the students in choosing

their track according to their physical, mental, cultural growth, ability, and school capacity (Prince

Edward Island School Program, 2016; Barnachea, 2017)

The Perpetual Scribe (2016) discusses the experiences that a student may face in the new

curriculum. In the research, it states that SHS is a new room for opportunities, possibilities, learning,

discovery, and enjoyment. More often than not, we dont care about what other would say, as long as

were happy. (p.1.). Also, it explains that even it is new to everyone, the students should work hard and

work smart at the same time to gain success and to reach their own future. Additionally, the research

emphasizes that SHS is the future of our country since it is aiming to create Filipinos who are globally

competitive and ready at all times.

 A research also concluded that schools in the Philippines are ready for the implementation of

the K-12 Program since the educators are also competent in teaching by undergoing a seminar on how

to handle the new curriculum. However, there are differences between the private and public schools in

implementing the new curriculum (Lacorte, 2014 pp. 104-105).

As a whole, the related literatures support the idea regarding the experiences of students in

Senior High School. The study therefore wants to fill the gaps between the studies that have been

conducted and to give more information about Senior High School to the affected proponents such as

the students, parents, teachers, and the school heads. Also, it aims to give a new perception on why the

new curriculum must be implemented.

Methodology

This study treads on a qualitative exploratory research design utilizing two (2) Senior High

School students using semi-structured interviews either through Facebook Messenger or journal sheets

in an iterative or simultaneous data gathering procedure. The researcher codes the data to form

categories and later reduces the data into themes to explain the live experiences of the participant in

both graphical and verbal form.

Realities and
Truths
Senior High
School

Students

Experiences

Figure 1 Libunaos (2017) Conceptual Framework of the Students

Experiences in Senior High School
 The study seeks to explore the realities of Senior High School students in Meycauayan National

High School by viewing the information from individuals in their experiences in Senior High School as

students. The connection of these concepts in literature and studies eventually provides the bases on

how they exist and emerge on lives of participants. This framework therefore uses these relationships

and connections to describe the peoples live experiences to establish the truth.

Results and Discussion

Figure 2 Libunaos (2017) Thematic Diagram of Students Experiences in Senior High School

Senior High School Program is a new curriculum in the Philippines in order to mold Filipino

youths in their best version. Using semi-structured interview, the researcher found out codes that turn

out into themes and categories. With these codes, the researcher will formulate his results and

discussion.
 The researcher discovered four (4) categories lying on one (1) theme. These categories are the

students perception towards Senior High School, the factors needed to consider in choosing a strand,

the facilities needed an attention and to be produced, and the advantages of Senior High School

Program.

The codes that was gathered by the researcher explains the experiences of the students

regarding Senior High School, it concluded the hardship of a student as Respondent A stated, Mahirap

mangapa, at ang hirap gapangin para ma-achieve ang mataas na grade. Also, Respondent B said

Sobrang saya na sobrang hirap, it turns out that behind the hardships, and there is joy and fun while

experiencing those.

As the researcher goes through the study, he discloses the things should consider in choosing a

strand in Senior High School. The researcher finds out that self-interest should be considered as one of

the respondents stated, Isa ang HUMSS sa mga gusto ko. In addition, aside from our selves, the

student should also consider their own parents. Moreover, once you stepped on to Senior High School,

the student should think of what is next. Therefore, the student should consider their future course or

simply their college course. In addition, it was supported by the related literatures of The Prince Edward

Island School Program (2016) and Barnachea (2017), where they state that in choosing their track

according to their physical, mental, cultural growth, ability, and school capacity.

Furthermore, the researcher also seeks for the implications of K-12 and had discovered the

problem about the facilities tapos yung ibang facility wala, Respondent A stated; it proves the lack

of facility in Senior High School. With this problem, the researcher looks for the facilities needed in

Senior High School. Computer Laboratory, Gymnasium, and Hallway are the facilities what a student

looks for. As the study goes on, the researcher explains the things why those facilities are needed: (1) a

Computer Laboratory, since we are now in a 21st Century, technology is a big must and it is required in
such subjects to fulfil its objectives and to meet the learning competencies; (2) a Gymnasium, everything

needs to level up, every activity are getting vigorous, therefore the students are seeking for proper

place; and (3) Hallway, for the sixth year of implementation of Senior High School, buildings were just

made for the incoming Grade 11 and 12 last year, and there are a lot of problems in the surroundings

aroused, as Respondent A said, kasi putikan yung tatapakan at may risk na madulas. Moreover, one

literature said that one of the problems of Senior High School is lack in classrooms (Carlos Hilado

Memorial State College: Graduate School, 2016)

There might be implications in the new program, but behind every problem there is a reason,

and that is its advantages. Hence, the researcher seeks for more advantages of Senior High School. As

the researcher tries to discover the benefits, one of the respondents answers leads to the right path,

Malaki at maganda ang K-12 kung talagang handa ang DepEd dahil mas naging hands-on at

competitive ang mga bata at parang mas angat na ang SHS sa mga college student. Therefore, it

discloses different codes in the advantages of Senior High School Curriculum such as the hands-on

activity to the students, the competency of Senior High School Students over the College Students, and

also the values of a Filipino Youth to be more competitive. Additionally, Respondent B concluded that

SHS Program is not just an additional two years of agony but two years of new knowledge in order to

learn new things as he quoted, hindi ito dalawang taon ng paghihintay kundi dalawang taon ng bagong

kaalaman at karanasan.

Collating all the codes gathered, the researcher ended up in a thematic diagram. Figure 2

explains the different experiences of students in the Senior High School Program and has been divided

into different themes that lead to the different codes. In this thematic diagram, it also shows the

problems faced by the program and the solutions made for the program. Moreover, the experiences of
the students categorize into four, namely as the students perception, the facilities needed, the factors

in choosing a strand, and the advantages of SHS.

As a whole, the results and discussion of data gathered for the experiences of students in Senior

High School are in connection with the review of related literatures. Therefore, it has been proven that

the result is accurate as the other researchers have found out. For this study, the outcomes were purely

extracted from the data gathered using a semi-structured interview. Furthermore, the students

experiences in Senior High School are relevant and timely since it is for the future of the Filipinos as well

as the Philippines itself.