Utilization of Philippine Aptitude Classification Test (PACT) Result in Career Awareness Program
Ma. Thesageen Pagud-Sarabia1, Mauricia Sarigumba Bapilar2
Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines1,2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54476/iimrj282
ABSTRACT
This study determined the alignment of students’ Senior High School track and course preference in college with their aptitude and probable performance in educational programs. It is descriptive in nature. The respondents were the Junior High School students who took the Philippine Aptitude Classification Test (PACT) of School Year 2014–2015 and were enrolled Grade 12 at the Senior High School of Holy Name University for School Year 2017–2018. Frequency counting of the aptitude, probable performance in different educational programs, preferred school track and career choice were made. Results revealed that majority of the respondents were enrolled in the STEM track. More than half of the respondents got low aptitudes that fit to only one to three educational programs based on the nine (9) clusters of educational programs identified in the PACT and a significant number of respondents did not fit to any educational programs. Many of the college courses chosen by the respondents while they were still in Grade 9 are under services, engineering and manufacturing, and health and welfare clusters. More so, college course preferred by the respondents in STEM track are related to health and welfare followed by engineering and manufacturing cluster while those in ABM and HUMMS track preferred Social Science, Business and Law cluster. Career choices made by the respondents are not aligned with their aptitude which could be a source of future job-skills mismatch or misfit graduates. Career guidance is seen as an imperative for a successful future career choice and career awareness program is viewed as a possible intervention as early as Grade 7 to Grade 10.
Keywords: Philippine Aptitude Classification Test, career awareness program, aptitude, career choice