- By Margen A. Java
ABSTRACT
This tracer study aimed to determine the status of the first year college entrance scholars of Central Philippine University for school years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The major findings of the study were as follows: majority of the scholars belonged to the younger group with mean age of 17.45 years old, females, enrolled in the College of Business and Accountancy, finished senior high school from a public school, had STEM as a strand in senior high school, came from the towns, graduated with high honors, and availed the 1/3 Free Tuition entrance scholarships; the cohorts’ status of scholarship through the years until their graduation for those college entrance scholars during the school year 2018-2019 showed that 70.2% were able to maintain their scholarship at the end of the First Semester of that school year while 59.2% were able to maintain it for those scholars enrolled during 2019-2020; the analysis of variance between the two proportions of respondents according to age, sex, type of senior high school graduated from, SHS strand, place of origin and SHS honors received who have maintained their scholarship for those who started their scholarship during SY 2018-2019 and during SY 2019-2020 have either significant or not significant results at 5% level. Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn: the analysis of variance between the two proportions of respondents who were either young or old, males or females, either graduated with highest honors or with honors during SHS, enrolled in the colleges of CBA and other colleges who have maintained their scholarship is significant for those who started their scholarship during SY 2018-2019 and also the analysis of variance between the two proportions of respondents who were either graduates of public or private SHS and for those who came from the city or towns is significant for those who enrolled during SY 2019-2020. The issues that were faced by the scholars were as follows: very stringent grade retention policy and the challenge of online learning due to the pandemic for school year 2020-2021; poor internet connectivity; and the availability/timely release of book allowances for those with book allowance while the challenges they have met were those of family factors; the conduct of qualifying entrance examinations (prior to pandemic); being a new student, and, an introvert and some teacher factor issues as well as the challenge of the university system that could not keep a tab on time of the tuition discount of scholars and limited financial resources. Giving their best and studying hard as well as coming up with good study habits; having self-discipline and focusing on their studies; tapping resources and asking for help; looking for good internet connection; maintaining open communication with teachers; and, connecting with family members were the answers of the scholars when asked what they were doing to address the issues and challenges they experienced as scholars. When they were asked for their recommendations on what to improve on the scholarship program of the university, the following were their recommendations: to lower the over-all maintaining grade point average per semester; to lower the cutoff grade per subjects; to lower the grade requirement per subject for those with book allowance; to be encoded as scholars even though master list of scholars has not been released yet, to deduct scholarship at the beginning/ to update scholarship; to be given another chance if they missed to meet the requirement grade point average or grade cut-off per subject; to have more publication on announcements regarding scholarship; to urge teachers to properly check grades; to monitor scholars; to provide cellphone load; to send book allowances through Gcash or bank transfer; to conduct interview to finalize ranking of the scholars; to have certain rules for qualifying exams (scholarship) during the exam; to have a reward system; to cover tuition and fees when they qualify as full scholars; and, to avail of two scholarships at the same time.