INTRODUCTION

RATIONALE
The transition from junior high school to senior high school is a crucial
period for students, marked by the need to make significant decisions about
their future academic and career paths. In the Philippines, the K-12 curriculum
introduces the Senior High School (SHS) program, where students choose a
specific track and strand based on their interests and aspirations. This
decision carries immense weight, as it significantly influences their future
educational and professional opportunities. However, many students face
challenges in navigating this process effectively, often lacking adequate
guidance and support. According to Malguial et al., (2023), selecting an
academic strand is one of the most challenging decision that junior high
school students face. This implies that there is a need of guidance counseling
in order for the students improve their decision-making skills. This study aims
to investigate the influence of guidance counseling on the strand selection
process among Grade 10 students in Salawagan National High School,
addressing the pressing need for effective guidance and support in this critical
phase of their education.
This research explores the relationship between guidance counseling
and strand selection among Grade 10 students. The independent variable is
guidance counseling, encompassing various activities such as career
assessments, individual consultations, and workshops. As defined by Bosede
(2021), guidance counselling is the process of helping individuals to discover
and develop their educational, vocational, and psychological potentialities and
thereby achieving an optimal level of personal happiness and social
usefulness. The dependent variable is strand selection. As cited by Baret et
al., (2024), strand refers to the students’ chosen track and strand within the
SHS program. Relevant research literature (RRL) suggests that effective
guidance counseling plays a vital role in student development, particularly in
career exploration and decision-making. Studies by Olugua (2021) and
Dahlan et al., (2020), highlight the positive impact of comprehensive guidance
programs on students’ self-awareness, career aspirations, and ultimately, their
academic and career success.
To address the problem of inadequate guidance and support in strand
selection at Salawagan National High School, this study will investigate the
effectiveness of guidance counseling. Numerous studies have been
conducted about strand selection here in the Philippines, however there is no
quantitative study conducted yet about the influence of guidance counseling
on strand selection among grade 10 students here in the context of Quezon
Bukidnon where our school is located. This study aims to fill this gap by
examining the relationship between guidance counseling interventions and
student choices. The goal is to determine the extent to which guidance
counseling influences students’ understanding of different strands, their
decision-making processes, and ultimately, their satisfaction with their chosen
paths. The findings of this study will provide valuable insights for educators
and guidance counselors at Salawagan National High School, enabling them
to develop more effective and targeted interventions to support students in
making informed and fulfilling strand selections.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1. What is the level of academic strand awareness of the Grade 10
students before the intervention?
2. What is the level of academic strand awareness of the Grade 10
students after the intervention?
3. Is there a significant difference of strand selection among the Grade 10
students before and after the intervention?
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

•Grade 10
Students •Guidance •Informed
Counseling Strand
•Guidance
Process Selection
Counseling
Intervention

The framework shows a direct relationship between the independent

variable (guidance counseling) and the dependent variable (strand selection).
The process of guidance counseling acts as a bridge, facilitating the
transformation of the input (Grade 10 students) into the desired output
(informed strand selection).
The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of this process,
examining how guidance counseling interventions influence students’ strand
selection, their understanding of the chosen strand, and their satisfaction with
their decision.
Essentially, the study aims to understand if the guidance counseling
process helps students make more informed and fulfilling strand selections.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Effectiveness of Guidance Counseling

Chilewa & Osaki (2022) stated that “guidance and counseling

practices in schools are important aspects in career choices, talents
development and discipline. Guidance and counseling bring about
selfactualization and development human potential”. However, the
study of Nweze a& Okolie (2014) implies that, guidance counseling is
not effective in assisting students in career decision-making in their
respective schools. This means that there is a need for further
investigation and a deeper understanding of the factors that influence
the effectiveness of guidance counseling in different contexts. While
Chilewa & Osaki highlight the potential benefits, Nweze & Okolie’s
findings raise concerns about its practical implementation. More
research is needed to identify the specific challenges and
opportunities associated with guidance counseling, and to develop
strategies that ensure its effectiveness in supporting students’ career
development.

The study of Maestrado & Bucar (2”24) found that guidance

counseling plays a vital role in preparing students for career
decisions. However, the study also found that the implementation of
the Career Guidance Advocacy Program did not directly impact
students’ actual career choices. This suggests that while guidance
counseling is important, there may be other factors influencing
students’ decisions.

According to Imam Yuwono et al., (2017), This study showed

that guidance and counseling helped visually impaired students learn
better by giving them extra help, making them feel supported, and
helping them believe in themselves. This highlights that guidance
counseling, when designed to meet the unique requirements of a
particular group, can be a valuable resource for enhancing academic
achievement and promoting individual development.

Importance of Strand Selection

According to Palabrica & Ferolino (2023), choosing career path

is one of the most important choices that graduates of Senior High
School student will make in determining future plans. This decision
will have a significant impact through their lives. This implies that
choosing the right strand is important as it affects one’s future.
 As cited Fulgarinas et al., (2023), senior High school tracks
are essentially specialized fields of study that help students explore
their interests and prepare for their future college and career paths.
These tracks provide focused learning experiences that can guide
students towards specific academic and professional choices.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Baret, A., Arquino, A., Awyan, J., Bucod, R. C., & Ortiz, R. (2024).
Understanding career choices among grade 12 general academic
strand students: a phenomenological approach [Review of
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Research, Society and Development, 1(1), 13–18.
https://doi.org/ISSN%202818-3908

Bosede, F. (2021). THE ROLES OF COUNSELLORS IN CAREER

DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS AT ALL LEVELS OF EDUCATION
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‌Dahlan, Syarifuddin and Idris, Evalia and Susanto, Eko (2020) Improve student
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Maestrado, J. T., & Bucar, J. D. (2024). Career Guidance Advocacy Program and
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Malaguial, P. A., Gacoscos, G., Martinez, E., Abusama, H., & Valdez, A. (2023).
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