Tracer Study: Chosen Exits

INTRODUCTION

In the Philippines, learners have the need of self-actualization, entrepreneurship, higher

education, life skills and preparation for the world of the work, in order to meet the needs of

national and global community in reducing poverty, human development, strengthening Filipino

morals, developing strong sense of nationalism, building a society that is progressive, humane and

just, ensuring environmental sustainability, and evolving global partnership. (DepEd, 2016)

UNESCO Educational Commission to the Philippines (2012) stated that six (6) years in

elementary school and four (4) years in high school are insufficient, leading them to suggest that

the basic education system in the Philippines should be twelve years, making them fit to pursue

collegiate education and labor practices. With the assessments and recommendations on the

education system, the Philippine K-12 curricular program is made effective under the Republic

Act 10533 series 2012 or known as the “Enhanced Basic Education of 2013”. As per the law, this

program requires at least one year of kindergarten education with twelve years of basic education

prior to higher education. Prior to K-12’s enactment, the universal kindergarten was implemented

in the academic year 2011-2012. The program aims to strengthen the education curriculum of the

country, for before the law was enforced, Philippines is the only country left with a 10-year pre-

university curriculum in Asia. Also, with the countries Angola and Djibouti, Philippines is one of

the only three countries worldwide practicing the program. (Acosta, 2016)

Children of Fatima School Inc. - Mabiga has been running this program since 2017. The

institution is currently offering two strands under the Academic track: Accountancy and Business

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Tracer Study: Chosen Exits

Management and Humanities and Social Sciences together with Information Communication

Technology that falls under the Technical Vocational track. This institution has produced

graduates for the past two batches, and this study aims to trace one of them: batch 2019.

According to Hazaymeh and Dela Pena (2014), a tracer study enables the institution to get

information for basis for curricular improvement on possible deficits in the given educational

program. Graduate surveys data about the whereabouts of graduates, which might help broaden

the perspectives among the administrators, faculty and students. This information may be used in

assuring quality for further development. (Schomburg 2003).

This tracer’s study will show the percentage of the graduates from Children of Fatima

School Inc. – Mabiga of batch 2019 who are entrepreneurs, unemployed or undecided, working

and studying. With that the researchers will measure the satisfaction of the graduates regarding

their chosen exits. Also, the researchers will show the most significant factor affecting the decision

of the graduates on choosing their exits.

The 1987 Philippine Constitution reminds us that the State gives distinction to education

as a basic human right. As stated in the provisions of the constitution in Section 17, Article 2, “The

State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster

patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and

development.” Also in Section 1, Article 14, “The State shall protect and promote the right of all

citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education

accessible to all.” Section 4, Article 14 also tells us that “The State recognizes the complimentary

roles of public and private institutions in the educational system and shall exercise reasonable
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supervisions and regulations of all educational institutions.” “The State shall assign the highest

budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share

of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other mean of job satisfaction

and fulfillment.” Section 5, Article 14 states. Thus, education is indeed valued in our law. It is

evident that education is of primordial importance and creates a positive development on the

overall state of the Philippines. (Sergio, 2012)

The Philippine Qualifications Framework as established by Executive Order #83, Series of

2012, empowers agency responsibilities to review standards in basic education, higher education,

and skills development to DepEd, CHED, TESDA, PRC and DOLE. As stated by the former

president, Benigno Aquino III in his 2011 State of the Nation Address, “… ngayon pa lang,

nagtatagpo na ang kaisipan ng DOLE, CHED, TESDA at DepEd upang … suriin ang curriculum.”

It is also said that the education system is the strength of a nation. (Sergio, 2012). Thus,

the two years of senior high school aims to “provide time for students to consolidate acquired

academic skills and competencies.” giving more opportunities and possibilities to the graduates in

being globally-competitive. (DepEd, 2010)

The K-12 program, which was practiced since the academic year 2016-2017, struggled in

challenges in its starting years. According to Sergio (2012), the challenges are the program’s

curriculum design, human resource, ensuring sustainability of the program, and its required

infrastructure. Also, shortage of allotted funds and delay of release of funds, which results to

insufficient resources, are some of the major problems that both the implementer and receiver

experiences during the birthing years of programs. (Cabansag, 2014) K-12 program has also
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undergone misinterpretations on its goals and implementations. To some teachers and parents, the

additional years of study means additional load of expenses, although the senior high school years

are given free as part of basic education in public schools to their advantage; compared to a more

expensive two-year collegiate education. Based on other impact statements, the insufficiency in

seminars and trainings for teachers to cause misinterpretations on the nature of the curriculum.

(Cabansag, 2014)

Despite the challenges and misinterpretations, the curriculum has made its way to

fulfillment with the potential impacts it has to offer. The program’s possible impact is focused on

social and economic benefits in future life situations. K-12 offers improving capability of getting

a job after graduation, graduates meeting the demands and standards set by international

universities and of professional services, preparation for job market, and being globally-

competitive. The specializations and skills training will prepare the students in the field of work

and in being globally-competitive; which is also agreed by parents of K-12 students. (Cabansag,

2014) Also, ascribed benefits to the program is evident. An example of this is the application of

creativity in teaching strategies, increase employment for teachers and educational resources. It

also practices functional learning, in-depth knowledge and development of skills for both the

teacher and the student. (Cabansag, 2014)

With all the possible outcomes the program has to offer, this study aims to (a) distinguish

the percentage of Senior High School graduates of Children of Fatima School Inc. – Mabiga batch

2019 who belong to the four exits of K-12 program as follows: 1.1 Higher Education, 1.2

Employment, 1.3 Entrepreneurship and 1.4 Middle-level skills development, (b) identify the

number of graduates of batch 2019 who are satisfied with their chosen exit, and (c) find the most
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significant factor affecting the decision of the graduates on choosing their exits. This study also

intends to contribute figures for information and future reference to the (1) Institution, (2) faculty,

and (3) students. In knowing the number and percentage of its batch 2019 graduates who pursued

college education, careers, entrepreneurship and are undecided through this study, the institution

will be able to take necessary actions - if applicable – for and to its future population. The faculty

can also use the results of this study as a basis for awareness of the students’ possible plans after

graduation, whether it may be going to college, searching for jobs, or opening businesses. In

addition, this study will also show if the strand of the graduates were related to the courses they

took, if ever they enrolled for college and the jobs they applied for, if ever they were hired in jobs.

Thus, the teachers can educate future students more about their future education and career paths,

guiding them in the most appropriate step depending on the student’s condition. With what is stated

above, this paper may also help the students in deciding whether to pursue higher education,

employment opportunities, and businesses or stay unemployed and unenrolled after graduation.

This may also lead them in getting courses and jobs related to their Senior High School strand,

which will result to better background of their chosen field to avoid being undecided.

This study also aims to answer the questions: (a) What is the number of Senior High

School graduates of Children of Fatima School Inc. – Mabiga batch 2019 who belong to the four

exits of K-12 program as follows: 1.1 Higher Education, 1.2 Employment, 1.3 Entrepreneurship

and 1.4 Middle level skills development? (b) How many graduates of batch 2019 are satisfied with

their chosen exit? and (c) What is the most significant factor affecting the decision of the graduates

on choosing their exits?

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Based on the research questions, there is a huge possibility that the results will show a

significant difference between the number of the graduates’ chosen exit among the K-12 program’s

four exits as follows: 1.1 Higher Education, 1.2 Employment, 1.3 Entrepreneurship and 1.4 Middle

level skills development. On the other hand, hypothetically, there will be no significant difference

between the satisfaction rate for the graduate’s chosen exit among all the respondents. But due to

diversity, there may be a significant difference between the most significant factor that affected

each respondent in choosing their exits.

This research will be beneficial to the institution, as well as its faculty and students, since

the study will show significant data which will result to awareness and action to its readers. By the

results of this study, the institution can see the progress of the graduates they produced. The

institution will also know whether the benefits, learnings, and opportunities that the K-12

curriculum offered and provided were utilized by their graduates. The study can also be used by

the faculty as a reference on what they should focus on more for further improvements. Since the

study will also show the most significant factor which affected the graduates to choose their

particular exit, this can help the faculty in providing guidance to their students on choosing a

particular exit suitable for their current situation and needs. This study provides the most benefits

to the students, for the study provides information that can help them in their future choices,

especially those involving the 4 exits of K-12 curriculum, namely: higher education, employment,

entrepreneurship and middle level skills development. They can also be aware of the opportunities

await them after graduation. The study may also help them in utilizing their learnings through the

K-12 program in whatever exit they will choose in the future. Lastly, because this study provides

information that might be needed for future and further researches, this study would be beneficial

to future researchers.
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Tracer Study: Chosen Exits

This research focuses only on the graduates of Children of Fatima School Inc. – Mabiga

from batch 2019.

The study limits its coverage only in tracing the senior high school graduates of the

aforementioned batch and institution in their chosen exit among the four exits K-12 curriculum

offers, alongside the respondent’s satisfaction and most significant factor in choosing their exits

after basic education.

The data collection will be conducted to all the graduates of the aforementioned batch and

institution. The results will be based on the questionnaires given to the respondents and with the

data provided by all the class advisers of the 2019 batch.

METHOD

Research Design

This study is in a survey research design which is a quantitative research design wherein

the researchers administer a survey to a sample or to an entire population. In this design,

quantitative numbered data will be collected through questionnaires or interviews which will be

later on be statistically analyzed for it to serve as a response to the research questions or

hypotheses. (Tanny, 2018)

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Respondents

The respondents of this study are the senior high school graduates of batch 2019 in Children

of Fatima School, Inc. – Mabiga: ___ graduates from Accounting and Business Management,

_____ graduates from of Humanities and Social Sciences, and lastly, ___ graduates from

Information Communication Technology. In total, this study has ___ participants or respondents.

Research Locale

The researchers conducted their study in Children of Fatima School, Inc. - Mabiga which

is located in Mabiga, Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Research Instruments

The researchers used the self-made survey questionnaire wherein the respondents were

asked to answer certain questions that the researchers provided.

Research Ethics

The researchers ensure that the data which the respondents provided will be confidential

and will only be used for this particular study.

Procedure

Frequency

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