Beyond Proximity: Investigating Learners’ Preference for Distant Schools Over Nearby Institutions

Abstract

Accessibility has historically been regarded as a major factor in school selection. New trends indicate that learners are placing a higher value on other characteristics like academic standing, specialized programs and campus amenities. Despite the availability of nearby institutions, this study investigates the factors that influence learners’ preference for distant learning environments. This study helps to provide a more complex knowledge of learners’ preferences, so providing important consequences for educational institutions trying to draw and keep learners as well as for lawmaking bodies. The participants of the study are learners studying at Valencia National High School, Valencia City, Bukidnon and Halapitan National High School, Halapitan, San Fernando, Bukidnon who live in an area far from their chosen schools. The researcher used qualitative methods with descriptive phenomenology to conduct the study. Research data collection involved participants being interviewed to provide deeper understanding of individual motivations. The result shows that perceived future career benefits, extracurricular activities, and academic quality exceed the convenience of proximity. Furthermore, a very important factor in learners’ decision-making are social factors and family expectations. The results expose the presumption that distance is a main obstacle and underline the complexity of elements influencing educational decisions. Future research should look more at how these factors change across time and in many cultural settings.