Tracer Study of PRP Scholarship Graduates

In addition to improving the quality of basic education, PRP has provided scholarships to students enrolled in either the 2-year Associate Degree in Education (ADE) or the 4-year Bachelors of Education (B.Ed.-Hons.) in selected institutions, removing financial barriers hindering students in completing their degrees. A quantitative survey was conducted to assess different aspects of the PRP scholarship program and to gather information about the current employment status of scholarship recipients, one year after completing their degrees. The survey targeted students who graduated between October 2016 and August 2018, and a total of 370 PRP scholarship recipients were contacted through telephone for the required information. The survey had an overall response rate of approximately 50%, with 186 students (82 males and 104 females) recording their responses against the survey questions. The survey results show that 41% of the respondents are employed, while 29% are still looking for jobs after one year of their graduation. A significant percentage of graduates (21%) are pursuing higher degree programs after acquiring their ADE or B.Ed. (Hons.) degrees. The private sector is the largest employer of PRP scholarship graduates, with a significant number of respondents working in private schools or other private organizations. Out of the employed graduates, 71% are currently in the teaching profession, which seems very promising since the primary objective of providing these scholarships is to bring a more qualified teachers' workforce into the market. The survey also found that 65% of the respondents believe that the specialized education degree significantly contributed towards getting their current jobs. The data shows that more male graduates are currently employed compared to female graduates, however, females are more inclined towards pursuing higher degree programs than male graduates. Examining gender-wise distribution in only the 'Teaching profession' shows higher female teachers' percentage (56%) than male (44%) aligned with the national statistic where females are more inclined towards teaching profession. The survey results indicate that the PRP scholarship program has been successful in providing employment opportunities to graduates, with 71% of employed graduates in the teaching profession. The private sector has overtaken the public sector as the most important source of employment for graduates, with 42% of employed graduates teaching in private schools compared to 29% teaching in public schools. The data also shows that all (n=20) employers responded positively to a question on whether the hired people had the right skills set and education needed for the job. The outcomes of this survey would be helpful in exploring key elements of the scholarship program, including whether graduates are currently working in sectors and positions relevant to their qualifications, perception of employers about relevance of knowledge and skills taught in the ADE and B.Ed. (Hons.) programs regarding their organizational needs, and gathering data about graduates pursuing or having completed any further degree programs.