DETERMINANTS OF AGRICULTURE AS A DEGREE CHOICE AMONG THE YOUTH IN BUKIDNON, PHILIPPINES

The research was conducted to analyze the determinants of agriculture as a degree choice among senior high school students in Bukidnon, Philippines. Specifically, this aimed to describe the personal and non-personal factors of the senior high school students examine the guiding principles of the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) curriculum in preparing students in choosing agriculture as a degree and analyze the determinants of choosing agriculture as a degree. Data were gathered through guided interview personally administered to 383 Grade 12 senior high school students in DepEd, District of Bukidnon. Focus group discussion and key informant interview were used. Descriptive statistical, Chi square and logit regression analysis were used to analyzethe determinants of agriculture as a career choice.Findings shows that the respondents are young, mostly female, and have experiences in farming, do not own a piece of land used in agriculture, willing to engage in agriculture but are not willing to enroll in an agriculture degree. Therefore, respondents who will pursue agriculture as a degreeare males and have land used for agriculture, farming experience, and a brother who is working in agriculture-related field. They are individuals who decide on their own degree, influenced by their mothers occupation and their family in decision-making. All the guidelines used by Maredia (2007) are complied by the college in the continuous development of the BS Agriculture degree program. Only the Innovativeness principle does not exist in the college. It does not yet offer distance and open access education but a six-month distance learning program for agriculture professionals may be offered. In order to attract the interest of the youth in agriculture degree, interventions must such as scholarship grants, linkages with private and other industries for on the job trainings and employment, loan system for entrepreneurial purposes of graduates.