FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENT’ DECISIONS TO ENROLL IN THE GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN TEACHING PROFESSION PROGRAM AT SANTAPOL COLLEGE

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine the factors influencing students’ decisions to enroll in the Graduate Diploma Program in Teaching Profession at Santapol College. The study focused on personal factors, social factors, and educational environmental factors that affect students’ enrollment decisions. The sample consisted of 124 students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma Program in Teaching Profession at Santapol College during the academic year 2024. The sample size was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan table, and the participants were selected through simple random sampling. The research instrument was a five-point Likert scale questionnaire comprising two sections: demographic information of the respondents and items related to factors influencing enrollment decisions. The instrument was validated for content validity and demonstrated a high level of reliability, with a reliability coefficient of 0.96. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, to describe the general characteristics of the respondents. Inferential statistics were employed using multiple linear regression analysis to examine the influence of the independent variables on students’ enrollment decisions.

The results revealed that the factors significantly influencing students’ decisions to enroll in the Graduate Diploma Program in Teaching Profession at Santapol College were parental or spouse expectations, which had the strongest influence, followed by employment opportunities after graduation and the availability of institutional facilities, respectively. The findings of this study can be utilized as empirical information for curriculum development planning, the formulation of effective public relations strategies, and educational management to better align academic programs with learners’ needs and the contemporary social context.