Interest and Confidence in Mathematics and Science: Precursors in Choosing the STEM Strand

Abstract

The Philippines has just recently shifted from a 10-year basic education to 12 years of basic education known as the K to 12 Program. In this new curriculum, students get to choose a track of their interest in the Senior High School (SHS) and one of these is the Academic Track with the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand. In the first two years of implementation of the said program, STEM has recorded a significantly low enrollment. This was the main problem of this study. This study looked at the interest of the students in Mathematics and Science and correlated with their interest in pursuing the STEM strand. The descriptive correlational research was employed with the use of survey questionnaire. Data obtained was interpreted using the weighted mean, sum of ranks, and Pearson-r correlation coefficient. Results revealed that the respondents were interested in the subjects Mathematics and Science. They were confident in their scientific ability but only slightly confident in mathematical abilities. There was a significant, moderately high relationship between the interest of the respondents in Mathematics and Science and in their confidence level in Mathematics and Science. The very high relationships between the interest and confidence in Mathematics, and interest and confidence in Science were also significant. Teacher influence registered to be the most important factor affecting their interest in Mathematics and Science while Family influence affects their confidence. The respondents also showed interest in the STEM strand. Lastly, the relationship between their interest and confidence in Mathematics and Science and their interest in pursuing the STEM strand was moderately high and significant.