Reaching the end of junior high is always a cause for celebration! After countless performance tasks, sleepless nights, and endless exams, the first taste of success is making it out with your head held high. Make the struggle count by choosing your next step wisely. If junior high was about discovering yourself and what you wanted, senior high is about choosing a path and sticking to it. If you are not sure about the differences of tracks and strands and which one to choose from the SHS programs available in the Philippines, then you have come to the right place.
We put together the ultimate SHS guide to help you find the best senior high academic track!
What is the Difference Between Track and Strand?
The difference between track and strand refers to the aspects of the curriculum structure.
A “track” in SHS describes the broad academic pathway that students choose based on their career goals and interests. Each track is designed to provide students with a focused set of subjects and skills that align with specific career fields.
Generally, there are four main tracks offered for senior high school students:
- Academic Track
- Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) Track
- Sports Track
- Arts and Design Track
Within each of these, there are different “strands” to choose from that focus on a specific specialization. These strands aim to give you an introduction to the courses you wish to pursue as you continue with your collegiate studies.
Learning with OEd’s Tracks and Strands
Here at OEd, we offer quality education focused on the Academic and TVL tracks. To help you finalize a decision on which track and strand to choose, here are our senior high school programs:
Academic Track
This track is tailored for those who want to continue their collegiate studies. Under OEd’s Academic Track are:
• STEM
The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) strand is the perfect choice for students that plan to pursue highly technical professions in scientific and mathematic fields such as architecture, engineering, medicine, economics, computer sciences and more. Commonly regarded as the most challenging SHS academic track, this is sure to be an enjoyable journey for students that want to seriously pursue their calling.
• HUMSS
Are you passionate about society? Or maybe you have an interest in the fine arts, design, and communication? The HUMSS (Humanities and Social Sciences) track is a good option for students that want to explore the limits of their creativity and understand the phenomenon of culture, literature, and other aspects of humanity. Students in this track can work illustrious careers in film, mass communication, political science, and literature.
• ABM
They say that it takes a business-minded student to pursue the ABM strand (Accounting, Business, and Management). Maybe you have always dreamed of putting up your own business. Or maybe you have always wanted the admirable title of an accountant? Maybe you dream of living the high life of a well-known manager for a company in a lucrative industry. If any of the three sounded like a dream come true, then maybe a path in ABM is for you!
• GAS
Not everyone knows what they want when they first set into senior high. And that’s nothing to be ashamed of! The truth of the matter is, it is always better to make the safe choice over the wrong choice. The GAS (General Academic Strand) offers courses that can hone key skills that are applicable to any field that you pursue. Immerse yourself in diverse learning experiences that can shed light on the career path or college course you want in the future!
• TVL
Some students are itching to jump into a job as soon as they graduate senior high. The TVL (Technical-Vocational Livelihood) track is the perfect choice for students that want to explore employment opportunities locally and overseas as soon as possible. After finishing any strand under the TVL track, students can apply for national certifications, and automatically get a TESDA National Certificate – a necessary document for making the most of work opportunities as soon as possible.
One of TVL’s most useful strands is ICT (Information and Communications Technology). It opens up careers in large corporations by way of analyzing the design, technology, and implementation of complex information management systems that are key to operation.
Senior High is a whole new adventure in itself. A new chapter that can change the course of your life. We hope this guide helped prepare you for what’s to come, and no matter what choice you make in the end, be confident in your ability to make a difference.
