Philippines is one of the three countries remaining in the

world, namely Djibouti and Angola in Africa, and the only remaining

country in Asia with a 10- year pre-university program. This short

period makes it difficult for Filipinos to be competitive with

other countries that have at least 12 years of basic education.

The majority who do not go to college are too young to enter the

labor force, thus, they would either be unemployed to set up

businesses or cannot legally enter into contracts.

To bridge the problem on education, the Department of

Education has started to implement the new K-12 Curriculum, which

is a major reform in the curriculum for all schools nationwide.

This reform includes decongesting and enhancing the basic

education curriculum for learners to master basic competencies,

lengthening the cycle of basic education to cover kindergarten

through year 12. By prolonging the basic education, that is,

adding kindergarten and two years in high school, the program

ensures that graduates earn the necessary skills and reach the

legal age for employment to qualify entrance into the world of

work, if they desire or need to do so. On the other hand, graduates

who opt to go to tertiary education are deemed better prepared for

college study (SEAMEO INNOTECH, 2012).

The career specializations offered by the K-12 curriculum

serves as a stepping stone for the students to plan up and act

upon on their chosen career. This would somewhat solve the problem

of high unemployment rate and job mismatch in the country. Thus,

it is important to determine the specialization that they are about

to take and the factors as to why they chose the said track.

Several studies conducted both national and international in

order to determine the factors that affects the track preference

of the junior high school students. For instance, in the study of

Japitan (2015), it was found out that profile of the students in

terms of sex, average family income, occupation of the head of the

family significantly affect career track choices of the students.

In the study of Abarro (2016) with the same focus but different

locale, it stated the same findings.

All related studies reviewed by the researcher only determine

the factors affecting the choice of track by students. In this

paper, the researcher wants to open theoretical model to predict

the track preference of the students in senior high school. Success

of this study would benefit numerous people in the community.

Review of Related Literature

Students Track preference

The choice of Tracks of the students play a great role in the

preparations of the schedule for the Senior High School. These

tracks are associated with career preferences which will be the

bases in the conduct of the present study. Track preferences as

defined by Japitan(2015) pertains to the choice of the student for

senior high school specializationin relation to individuals

abilities, skills, competencies and with the assistance of

management in order that he can take greater job and personal

responsibility for his future. In other words, this is a preferred

career choice of an individual that should be decided ahead of

time.

In an article on What is Most Important to Students by Duffy

and Sedlacek from 1995 to 2004 revealed that male preferred to

select careers which will generate money and female would like to

select career which will concentrate on working with people and

those which can contribute to society.

Association of track preference and Profile

Witko, Bernes, Magnusson and Bardick (2006) studies on senior

high school students' occupational aspirations found out that

interests, skill, personal meaning, challenges and parental

support are variables contributory to the occupational aspirations

of senior high school students. In like manner with the study of

La (2009) on factors influencing the educational and career choices

of senior high school students revealed that parent supports,

school structure, gender and grade point average have considerable

influence on the Vietnamese Senior high school students

educational and career choice. In same year, Leonard (2009) study

on high school students' course selection decisions in south

Carolina found out that parents and teachers are highly

influential in the course selection decision. In addition,

Heilbronner (2011) claimed that the greater number of the students

manifested to proceed to STEM courses in college. This is brought

about with the quality, adequacy of preparations and scholastic

experiences of the students.

Eremie, (2014) study on comparative analysis of factors

influencing career choices among senior secondary school students

in Rivers State, Nigeria. The result showed that there were

significant differences in the career preferences when grouped

according to their sex, parity, and parental influence. In

addition, socio-economic background were influential in

participants' decisions to pursue a postsecondary degree. Cultural

factors, especially English fluency, were also relevant.

Local communities and institutional factors had generally a

negative impacts on career choice of the students.

Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

This study is anchored on the theory of Donald Super which

focuses on the development of life roles over the life span with

emphasis on inter-role congruence. His vocational concept as a

part of self-concept is formed; it is the driving force that

establishes a career pattern one will follow through life (Super,

1990). Vocational developmental tasks are derived from vocational

stages which provides framework for vocational behavior and

attitudes. The vocational developmental stages are as follows:

1. Growth (birth-age 14 or 15), characterized by development

of capacity, attitudes, interests, and needs associated with self-

concepts;

2. Explanatory (ages 15-24), characterized by a tentative

phase in which choices are.

3. Establishment (ages 25-44), characterized by trial and

stabilization through work experiences;

4. Maintenance (ages 45-64), characterized by a continual

adjustment process to improve working position and situation; and

5. Decline (ages 65+), characterized by preretirement

considerations, reduced work output, and eventual retirement.

The crystallization task (ages 14-18) is forming a preferred

career plan and considering how it might be implemented. Pertinent

information is studied with the goal of becoming more aware of the

preferred choice and the wisdom of preference. The specification

task (ages 18-21) follows in which the individual feels the need

to specify the career plan through more specific resources and

explicit awareness of cogent variables of the preferred choice.

The implementation task (ages 21-24) is accomplished by the

completion of training and entry into the career and develops a

feeling of security in career position.

The stabilization (ages 24-35) is reached when the individual

is firmly established in a career and develops a feeling of

security in career position. Finally, the consolidation task (35+)

follows with advancement and seniority in a career. Super also

identified six dimensions that were thought to be relevant and

appropriate for adolescents:

1. Orientation to Vocational Choice (an attitudinal dimension

determining whether the individual is concerned with the eventual

vocational choice to be made);

2. Information and planning;

3. Consistency of Vocational Preferences (individuals

consistency of preferences);

4. Crystallization of Traits (individual progress toward

forming a selfconcept);

5. Vocational Independence (independence of work experience);

and

6. Wisdom of Vocational Preferences (dimension concerned with

individuals ability to make realistic preferences consistent with

personal tasks.)
 This theory is found to be appropriate because of its

stressfulness in terms of developing a career plan that will guide

the individual in choosing his/her career pathway. Also, Supers

six-dimension is appropriate for adolescent is truly applicable

because high school students fall under this category.

Research Instruments

For this study, a survey questionnaire will be used to gather

the respondents feedback. Part I of the questionnaire covers the

socio-demographic profile of the respondent; such as age, sex,

geographic location, favorite hobby, academic performance,

economic status, parents educational attainment, and media

exposure. Part II covers the career/field that the respondent would

pursue and their track preference as mentioned in Chapter 1.