Most of the high school graduates right now, don’t know what course they want to pursue in college. In fact, when they take entrance examination in universities or colleges, and when they are asked what major they want for themselves.

This is what exactly what happened during the first burst enrolment of our senior high school student. Even though they had their NCAE during their Grade 10, still, the problem of undecided students and gradually made a high number last June.  To be specific, in our school, we experienced tremendous complains of students about their chosen tracks. Some said, ABM was too difficult for them, HUMMS was boring and not exciting track and as well as TECH- VOC strands.

Since Grade 10 is the equivalent of the current forth year high school, nothing has really changed. Naming Grade 11 Senior High School rather than First Year College is just change in name, as far as career planning in concerned.

As of now, there are few students in senior high want to change from one track to another. More likely, they would also do this on their college. Most of the students don’t know what they really want to major in. all they know, they have to finish their high school so they could go to college or go for work.  And this will lead, when they enter college, the mindset of having a college degree to get a college diploma.

Since we cannot force anyone not to spend money on a college education even if she/he does not need it or does not know what to do with it, we need to have a way  for the undecided. This is what the fourth strand in the Academic Track of Senior High School is all about.

Students that cannot make up their mind about which of the three acadmic strands ; accountancy, Business and Management or ABM, Humanities and Social Sciences or HUMSS, Science, Engineering and Mathematics or STEM, they want to enter will take the following General Academic Strand or GAS.

–          Humanities 1 and 2

–          Social Science

–          Applied Economics

–          Organization and Management

–          Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction

–          Elective 1 and 2 ( STEM Subject or ABM Subject)

–          Work Immersion /Research/ Career Advocacy/ Culminating Activity

The two electives can be taken from the specialized subjects of any other tracks or strand, provided each school offers more than two options. In my insight, these two electives could be much better if STEM or ABM specialized subjects will be included, so that, the students will experience all the academic strands.

Definitely, students opting to choose the General Academic Strand will be minimally prepared for higher education. They will be qualifying for certain majors in college. GAS can provide them a simple realization of what actually the different courses in college would be like. In this way, we can resolve some of the problems in undecided students in taking college degree. 

By: Leda Mayormita dela Cruz