DepEd inaugurates pioneer ALS-EST learning center in Eastern Samar
By AJ Siytangco
Published May 6, 2019 03:53 pm
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
In order to reach out and provide better opportunities for the out-of-school youth and adults who failed to finish basic education, the Department of Education (DepEd) led the inauguration of the country’s pioneer Alternative Learning System–Education and Skills Training (ALS-EST) Learning Center in Eastern Samar.
DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Nepomuceno Malaluan and Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson led the ceremonies at Lawaan National School of Craftsmanship and Home Industries (LNSCHI) recently.
(DEPED / MANILA BULLETIN)
For Malaluan, the launching of the ALS-EST was “bayanihan in practice.” He attributed the establishment of the learning center through the collaborative efforts of DepEd and Australia’s Basic Education Sector Transformation (BEST) program, in cooperation with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
Meanwhile, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, in a message read by Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla, stressed that the ALS was a “major commitment of DepEd” and was being fully supported by President Rodrigo Duterte.
To enhance the ALS program, Briones said that her office initiated the ALS-EST. “It will be integrated into the academic curriculum of our regular ALS program,” she added. With the inauguration of the first ALS-EST Learning Center and the creation of the ALS-EST handbook, she explained that DepEd solidifies its commitment “to intensify and expand the ALS programs in order to reach out and provide better opportunities for the out-of-school youth and adults who failed to finish basic education.”
The learning center was likewise built to improve participation rate among non-formal education learners. The 444 square meter learning hub was designed to be disaster-resilient, with classrooms that may be combined and converted into one big hall.
“Students have options—if for any reason they could not be accommodated in the formal education, they now have the chance to be part of this ALS-EST,” DepEd Region VIII Director Ramir Uytico said during his welcome remarks.
Other design elements of the center include gender-segregated toilets, faculty room for the ALS facilitators, and nursing room for parent-learners. The center will also be a laboratory for best practices and will set the benchmark for other ALS-EST areas.
Likewise, Robinson guaranteed that through the BEST program, the Australian government will “continue to support DepEd with its priority reforms.” With DepEd committed to providing quality education to all Filipinos, “this requires adapting standard models to meet the needs of diverse learners.”
Robinson added that Australia “strongly supports this commitment and is proud to work with DepEd to develop initiatives like the ALS-EST to cater to learners outside the formal school system.”
Australia and the Philippines are long-standing partners in education, sharing a strongly held view that education is the critical foundation for expanding labor-market participation and accelerating inclusive economic growth.
In order to realize the partners’ vision in providing education and skills training opportunities to more students, Australia – through the PBSP – will construct four additional ALS-EST learning centers across the country. To maximize the employment prospects of the future ALS-EST graduates, they will be working with the University of the Philippines (UP) to undertake a labor-market study.
Also present in the event were First Secretary for Education of the Australian Embassy Frankie Lawe-Davies, BEST team leader Allison Atwell, Director Elvin Ivan Uy and Daryl Calvert of PBSP, DepEd Undersecretary for Planning, HROD, and Field Operations Jesus Mateo, Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and Project Management Service Tonisito Umali, OIC Assistant Secretary for Curriculum and Instruction Alma Ruby Torio, Bureau of Learning Delivery Director Marilette Almayda, Region I Director Malcom Garma, Eastern Samar’s Schools Division Superintendent Bernardo Adina, and Lawaan Mayor Florencio Almeda Jr.
Briones also vowed DepEd “will continue to work closely with our stakeholders, consult them, and strengthen partnerships to achieve our goal of delivering quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating education for all.”
(DEPED / MANILA BULLETIN)
For Malaluan, the launching of the ALS-EST was “bayanihan in practice.” He attributed the establishment of the learning center through the collaborative efforts of DepEd and Australia’s Basic Education Sector Transformation (BEST) program, in cooperation with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
Meanwhile, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, in a message read by Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla, stressed that the ALS was a “major commitment of DepEd” and was being fully supported by President Rodrigo Duterte.
To enhance the ALS program, Briones said that her office initiated the ALS-EST. “It will be integrated into the academic curriculum of our regular ALS program,” she added. With the inauguration of the first ALS-EST Learning Center and the creation of the ALS-EST handbook, she explained that DepEd solidifies its commitment “to intensify and expand the ALS programs in order to reach out and provide better opportunities for the out-of-school youth and adults who failed to finish basic education.”
The learning center was likewise built to improve participation rate among non-formal education learners. The 444 square meter learning hub was designed to be disaster-resilient, with classrooms that may be combined and converted into one big hall.
“Students have options—if for any reason they could not be accommodated in the formal education, they now have the chance to be part of this ALS-EST,” DepEd Region VIII Director Ramir Uytico said during his welcome remarks.
Other design elements of the center include gender-segregated toilets, faculty room for the ALS facilitators, and nursing room for parent-learners. The center will also be a laboratory for best practices and will set the benchmark for other ALS-EST areas.
Likewise, Robinson guaranteed that through the BEST program, the Australian government will “continue to support DepEd with its priority reforms.” With DepEd committed to providing quality education to all Filipinos, “this requires adapting standard models to meet the needs of diverse learners.”
Robinson added that Australia “strongly supports this commitment and is proud to work with DepEd to develop initiatives like the ALS-EST to cater to learners outside the formal school system.”
Australia and the Philippines are long-standing partners in education, sharing a strongly held view that education is the critical foundation for expanding labor-market participation and accelerating inclusive economic growth.
In order to realize the partners’ vision in providing education and skills training opportunities to more students, Australia – through the PBSP – will construct four additional ALS-EST learning centers across the country. To maximize the employment prospects of the future ALS-EST graduates, they will be working with the University of the Philippines (UP) to undertake a labor-market study.
Also present in the event were First Secretary for Education of the Australian Embassy Frankie Lawe-Davies, BEST team leader Allison Atwell, Director Elvin Ivan Uy and Daryl Calvert of PBSP, DepEd Undersecretary for Planning, HROD, and Field Operations Jesus Mateo, Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and Project Management Service Tonisito Umali, OIC Assistant Secretary for Curriculum and Instruction Alma Ruby Torio, Bureau of Learning Delivery Director Marilette Almayda, Region I Director Malcom Garma, Eastern Samar’s Schools Division Superintendent Bernardo Adina, and Lawaan Mayor Florencio Almeda Jr.
Briones also vowed DepEd “will continue to work closely with our stakeholders, consult them, and strengthen partnerships to achieve our goal of delivering quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating education for all.”