Perceived Employability Skills of Grade 12 Senior High School Students at Saint Mary’s University: An Assessment

The emergence of the K-12 program significantly enhances students' education, broadening their knowledge, skills, and readiness for their chosen fields. However, today's job market demands not just academic excellence but also specific skills from senior high school graduates. This study aims to assess the perceived employability skills of grade 12 senior high school students of Saint Mary's University, pinpointing areas where they excel or lack. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design of both quantitative and qualitative methods, data were gathered from 224 grade 12 students from the ABM, STEM, HUMSS, AD, TVL-HE and TVL-ICT strands through the distribution of a survey questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for the quantitative data and thematic analysis for the qualitative data. It was revealed that the respondents generally perceived themselves as possessing a "moderate level" of employability skills, with ICT skills ranking highest and Planning skills the lowest. Comparative analysis revealed significant differences in perceived skills based on track/strand, academic standing, and socioeconomic background, while sex held no significant differences. The results imply a need for curriculum enhancement to ensure a comprehensive readiness for employability among senior high school students. The development of teaching strategies as well as the implementation of workshops, seminars, and trainings to further enhance students' employability skills are needed, with a specific emphasis on improving students’ planning skills.