Impacts of Strand Discrimination

to Humanities and Social

Sciences Students

in Legarda

A Research

Presented to Kim Ilustrisimo

AMA Computer Learning Center Manila

2355 Legarda Corner Manrique St.,

Sampaloc, Manila

Alvarado, John Del Ray P.

Andrade, Kate C.

Recondo, Cassius

Borja, Yuan G.

Manlapid, Hydie

Malazarte, Lianne Arlu C.

The researchers would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to all the people who supported
and uplifted them since the day one. This research would be impossible without the help and kindness
given by the following:

First and foremost, to the God Almighty, for His showers of blessings all throughout the researchers’
journey. Through His amazing grace, they were able to execute this research well. Truly, the Glory is all
His.

To the researchers’ parents, who gave them one hundred percent support both financially and
emotionally. These supportive parents of the researchers were their number one support system.

To the researchers’ friends that turned into family, who never failed to remind them how worthy and
important this research is. Their humor, over all support and willingness to help gave the researchers
reasons to continue and to never quit.

To the researchers’ adviser, Mr. Adrian Ferrer, who never doubted the capabilities of his students.

And of course, to Ms. Kim Ilustrisimo, the “mastermind” of this research, the researchers will be forever
grateful for her. She believed in them since the very start.
 Dedication

The researchers would like to dedicate this to all the people who supported them from the start until the
end. They want to extend their gratitude and they dedicate this to following:

To the God Almighty, who served as the researcher’s source of strength and hope. The researchers owe
it all to Him.

To the researchers’ family specifically their parents, they were there since the very beginning. They were
the ones who supported the researchers in all aspects.

They also want to dedicate this to their loyal, generous and supportive friends. Words are not enough to
describe how wonderful they are.

And of course, to the researchers’ adviser, Mr. Adrian Ferrer and Research Teacher, Ms. Kim Ilustrisimo,
the researchers dedicate this research to them because they were their mentors and no. 1 critique
throughout this study.
 CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction and Background of the Study

On May 15, year 2013, former President Benigno Aquino IIII approved the Republic Act (RA) 10533
entitled “An Act Enhancing the Philippine Basic Education System by Strengthening Its Curriculum and
Increasing the Number of Years for Basic Education, Appropriating Funds Therefore and for Other
Purposes” or known as the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”.

The reactions of the Filipinos towards the additional two years to the curriculum were 50/50. Some find it
hard, some find it helpful. “Hard” because of the added two years and “helpful” because the additional two
years will help you figure out your desired career, with the help of the tracks and strand that you’ll be
taking. There’s Academic, Sports and Arts, and Technical-Vocational-Livelihood track.

Year 2016, the first batch of Senior High School students or the “pioneers” entered their respective
paths. And since then, several issues and problems were slowly piling up. This study will focus on the
Academic Track that has 3 major strands; namely Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS), Accountancy,
Business and Management (ABM) and Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM).
Obviously, these strands are uniquely different from each other. Each strand requires different talents,
ideas and interest. And with that being said, comparison of capabilities between students started.
Stereotypes such as “STEM are for geniuses” and “HUMSS is so easy” arose. And Strand Discrimination
also started. Strand Discrimination or “Course Discrimination” is the kind of discrimination that is based on
the track, strand or course that one person chose to take. Academic capabilities are often being compared
between Humanities and Social Science courses and Science and Mathematics related courses.

The researchers are also Social Science students, they also hear some piece of discouragement and
are often being discriminated because of the strand that they took. There’s a “HUMSS Lang” label and
dilemma that some people often use to discriminate them. Because for some, Humanities and Social
Science courses is way easier than Science courses, while they hail all the people who are into Science
courses because they are labeled as “geniuses”. This has to stop. Every track, strand, and course has its
own difficulties.

These factors triggered the curiosity of the researchers that’s why they want to hear HUMSS Students
out. They would like to see, know, and hear the point of view of some Humanities and Social Sciences
students around Legarda. Are they really being discriminated? What are the effects of it to them? In what
way are they being discriminated?
 Objectives of the Study

This study entitled “Impacts of Strand Discrimination to Humanities and Social Sciences Students in
Legarda” has the following objectives:

 To know the different ways or forms of Strand Discrimination (verbal/ non-verbal, cyber etc)

 To assess the good and bad effects of it to the confidence and academic performance of the
HUMSS Students

 To identify the overall impacts of Strand Discrimination to the chosen respondents

 To be able to use this study as a “bridge” to solve this problem

Some students are experiencing this kind of discrimination that is being based upon their chosen
strands during their Senio High School. The factors stated in the background of this study are some sort of
proofs that Strand Discrimination is really a thing, and is really happenning.The Humanities courses are
often being compared to Science courses, because for some, humanities courses are easy and Science
courses are not.

The researchers seek to answer the following:

1. What kind of Strand Discrimination is being experienced by the senior high school students in Legarda?
is it Verbal? Physical?Cyber?

2. Are the teachers aware of this?

3. What are the impacts of Strand Discrimination to the academic performances of the victims? Is their self-
esteem affected?

4. Is this research will open conversations about the said problem?

This study will be conducted to find out the impacts of Strand Discrimination to the Humanities and
Social Science students with the hope of being an instrument to hear their voices out and to eventually
seek professional help and guidance to solve this problem.

Benefiting study are the following various sectors:

The Students
This study will open their eyes as they see the effects of Strand Discrimination to everyone. This may
encourage them to speak up and never let other people put label on them just because of the strand or
course that they chose. They can also be each other’s instrument to stop this kind of discrimination.

The Teachers
Because of this, teachers and whole staff of faculty will be more aware that Stand Discrimination is really
a thing. It is not just a form of “teasing”. It is in fact really serious. They may use their power to encourage
the people specially their students to never do this to their colleagues because they are all uniquely
talented in their own ways. Teachers can serve as a “support system” during the time where Strand
Discrimination is on its high peak.

The Parents
The parents will have the chance to talk to their children regarding this topic. Parents are really important
both in the perspectives of the victims and non-victims. This study can be an instrument to parent-child
relationship because this issue will surely start conversations between parents and children.

The Society
Of course, the whole society can always make a change. The researchers strongly believe that this
study will serve as an eye opener to every member of society and can trigger them to also
speak up regarding this. They can save the future generation by erasing those stereotypes and build a
solid society.
Future Researchers
This study will start the flame of solving Strand Discrimination. If the current researchers will
successfully identify the impacts of strand discrimination, the future researchers can study the root of this
or the possible solutions to this problem. This study also serves as their proof that Strand Discrimination
does have an impact to the victims. In this way, the future researchers can successfully support their study.
 Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study aims to assess the Impacts of Strand discrimination to Humanities and Social Science
students around Legarda. Their voices are needed. The survey that is going to be conducted will be the
key for the researchers to hear the voices of the HUMSS students around the area. In this way, the
researchers will be able to assess the impacts of Strand Discrimination to them.

There will be 30 willing respondents from several schools namely Arellano University, ABE
International Business College and ACLC College Of Manila. There will be no other issues aside from the
Strand Discrimination.