Open high school program: challenges and opportunities (mandated duty, consistent in faith and healthy in life)

The study examined the implementation, challenges, and opportunities of the Open High School Program (OHSP) in three secondary schools in Tabaco City Division, namely Tabaco National High School, San Lorenzo National High School, and San Miguel National High School. The OHSP had served as an alternative mode of secondary education, designed to accommodate learners who could not attend traditional schools due to personal, economic, or geographical constraints. In analyzing the data gathered from the survey on the implementation of the OHSP, descriptive statistical tools were primarily employed. The main statistical measure used was the weighted mean, which determined the average level of implementation and degree of challenges based on the frequency of responses across the five-point Likert scale. The study had involved 3 school heads, 25 OHS teachers, and 58 learners who had utilized surveys to answer the research questions. Notwithstanding the full implementation of the different projects and activities, there were still obstacles and challenges that had hindered the productivity and success of the program. For instance, training had been conducted annually; however, not all necessary skills required by teachers had been given attention, such as teaching skills using different educational applications to make learning more meaningful. Another challenge faced by implementers was the lack of students' motivation, which had resulted in poor participation and performance. Many OHSP students had experienced feelings of isolation, lack of peer interaction, and limited opportunities for collaborative learning. To address these concerns, the intervention program, "Strengthening Learner Engagement in the Open High School Program through Group Chat Collaboration," had proposed the use of structured online group chat platforms as a tool to foster peer support, enhance communication, and sustain motivation among learners. The researcher had suggested and recommended the use of a Program Implementation Plan to be utilized as a guide by all implementing schools to ensure that all projects and activities are done successfully on the prescribed time. This would have enabled them to align the program with learners' expectations, leading to improved outcomes and achievements for the learners following the plan.