Work Immersion Program and Learners' Performance in Public Senior High Schools in the Division of Cavite Province, Philippines: Basis for a Sustainability Program

Abstract

The Work Immersion Program is an essential component of the Philippine K to 12 curriculum that provides Senior High School learners with authentic workplace experiences designed to strengthen technical competencies, employability skills, and career readiness. Effective implementation of the program requires meaningful collaboration among schools, industry partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that learners acquire practical knowledge and workplace values aligned with industry standards. This study assessed the implementation of the Work Immersion Program and its relationship to learners' performance in selected public senior high schools in the Division of Cavite Province, as a basis for developing a Sustainability Program. Specifically, it examined the implementation of the Work Immersion Program in terms of work immersion objectives, duration, placement alignment, work immersion activities, learning outcomes, implementation models, partner institutions, program assessment, and monitoring and evaluation system; determined learners' academic and behavioral performance; examined significant differences in respondents' assessments; analyzed the relationship between work immersion implementation and learners' performance; identified implementation challenges; and evaluated the acceptability of the proposed Sustainability Program. A quantitative descriptive-correlational research design was employed, involving 265 respondents, including school heads, work immersion coordinators, and teachers from 12 public senior high schools in Cavite Province. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, weighted means, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and Multiple Regression Analysis. The findings revealed that the Work Immersion Program was implemented to a high degree across all dimensions. Learners likewise demonstrated satisfactory academic and behavioral performance. Significant positive relationships were observed between the implementation of the Work Immersion Program and learners' performance, indicating that effective program implementation contributes to improved learner outcomes. The proposed Sustainability Program was evaluated as highly acceptable. The study concludes that continuous strengthening of school-industry partnerships, monitoring systems, and implementation practices is essential for sustaining the effectiveness of Work Immersion in public senior high schools.