ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III
The reality that some courses are attracting more takers than others, certain courses attract a disproportionately large number of students. This oversubscription poses challenges for both educational institutions and aspiring learners.
In the Eastern Visayas consisting of the Island Province of Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar ( Western), Eastern Samar, there are 87 Institutions of Higher Learning it consists of 10 State Universities and Colleges, 28 Satellite Campuses and 46 Private HEIs. Using the AY 2023 Data available in the Commission on Higher Education Website it has a total of 207,599 enrollees.
The most popular course or Program is Bachelor of Criminal Justice Education ,popularly known as BS Criminology and Bachelor of Elementary Education, Bachelor of Secondary Education or Education Courses.
What gives or what would be the reasons of going through into the throngs and lining up towards this program?
For Education students here are a few random thoughts of a few respondents when they were asked why they have chosen the said program?
1. Stability, a few students of BS Elementary Education and BS Secondary Education declared that they see the program as stable, with steady demand of having more teachers because of the constant demand for quality education and the yearly increase of enrollees in basic education.
2. Influence from parents and relatives who are teachers themselves. This reason was the second frequent reply. It is a family influence so to speak.
3. Perceived Government Support .- The Constitution provides allocating more to the field of education and it has always been a cornerstone of every politician’s narrative .
Criminology programs, leading to a Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BSCRIM), also witness oversubscription. Here is why:
1. Media Influence: Crime-related TV shows, movies, and news stories romanticize law enforcement and criminal investigation. As a result, young individuals aspire to become police officers, investigators, or forensic experts.
2. Career Opportunities: Criminology graduates can work in various fields, including law enforcement, private security, and corrections. The allure of exciting and impactful careers draws many students to this field.
3. Public Safety Concerns: The Philippines faces security challenges such as crime, terrorism, and drug-related issues. As a result, there is a perceived need for more criminology professionals to maintain public safety.
4. Bigger Pay -undoubtedly the police and other uniformed personnel are enjoying higher pay than most public servants, owing to the risks that they have in their jobs.
The challenge for HEIs is to enact or do major modifications of their ways of doing things to address the oversubscription on the said courses.
Humbly, this public servant forwards the following suggestions.
1. Alternative Career Paths:-Encourage students to explore alternative career options within education and criminology. For example, education graduates can work in curriculum development, educational technology, or school administration.
2. Career Counseling and Awareness:-Educational institutions should provide comprehensive career counseling to help students make informed choices. Highlight lesser known but equally rewarding career paths related to these fields
3. Quality over Quantity: Institutions should focus on maintaining high standards of education rather than accommodating excessive student numbers.
Oversubscription can strain resources and compromise the quality of education. It will also lead to unemployment due to the sheer number of students and graduates of these two programs.
