LIVED EXPERIENCES OF CRIMINOLOGY STUDENTS IN PREPARATION FOR THE LICENSURE EXAMINATION IN THE PROVINCE OF LEYTE

The purpose of this qualitative study was to draw out the experiences encountered by the aspiring criminologists in preparation for the Criminologists Licensure Examination (CLE). This was done to identify the challenges they encountered in their preparation and how they coped with these challenges. The results served as basis for the recommendations and development of an effective strategy to help students in passing the CLE. Through the descriptive narrative method and Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenology, six (6) CLE passers from six (6) HEIs offering BS Criminology in Leyte under flexible learning served as co-researchers. Results derived from the interviews were coded and transcribed to come up with themes. The findings showed that the co-researchers expressed deep concern about the difficulties they faced in preparing for the licensure examination. They also discovered a number of factors that gave them the belief in success which were crucial in their struggle to pass the examination. It is recommended that there should be continuous enhancement of academic instruction, development of conceptual assessment tools, and integration of six (6) criminology areas into the curriculum.