Social Acceptability of the Senior High School Program in Selected Public Schools in Laguna

Abstract

This descriptive study examined the acceptability of the Senior High Shool (SHS) program during its first year of implementation, considering urban and rural differentiation. Cluster and purposive sampling selected 1,420 students and 96 parents, respectively, from five urban and five rural schools offering two or more academic with technical-vocational-livelihood strands in Laguna. Factor analysis on indicators revealed higher program acceptability among urban respondents, who recognized its role in making students college- or workready and cited advocacy efforts as crucial to acceptability. Finance-related factors elicited poor acceptability, especially among low-income families due to additional expenses and lost opportunity for children. Mann-Whitney U test results indicated more openness and willingness among urban respondents towards SHS implementation. Content analysis of interviews with four purposively chosen local government officials showed that advocacy programs significantly raised acceptability and that government provision of needed resources is paramount, especially in rural areas. Policy and practice implications are discussed.