The Department of Education has modified the implementation of the Alternative Learning System program in light of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan which rolled out this school year amid the ongoing health situation in the country.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones issued the guidelines on the implementation of the ALS program in response to the need to ensure that education continues in compliance with the existing community quarantine policies set by the government.

The modification of the ALS program implementation covers the curriculum, learning delivery, resources, and assessment, and program management.

While the ALS program is flexible in nature, DepEd directed the ALS teachers to strictly implement the individual learning agreement which outlines the learning goals of the learner.

The ILA and the recognized prior learning of an ALS learner will “determine the competencies in the ALS K-to-12 basic education curriculum that will be given focus in learning activities and sufficient time for coverage and mastery.”

To address the issue of social distancing and limited learner access to the Internet, which limits possibilities for online instruction, DepEd directed all ALS teachers to utilize various options for the continuance of ALS learning interventions during the COVID-19 situation.

Among the options include a blended approach for advanced elementary, Junior and Senior High School level learners; special learning sessions for lower elementary and basic literacy level learners; and radio-based Instruction or ALS TV.

In the blended approach, ALS teachers may use printed modules and may combine this to other resources that can be accessed by the learner (such as radio, TV, or Internet) that can support attainment of their learning objectives.

For LE and BL level learners who need in-person facilitator-aided support, DepEd said that ALS teachers may conduct face-to-face learning sessions upon receiving clearance from the Inter-Agency Task Force.

The special face-to-face sessions may be conducted on an “agreed schedule with learners in an appropriate learning environment” that complies with the minimum health standards.

DepEd said that the existing ALS modules for elementary and secondary levels are “instructionally designed to support self-learning” and they can serve as the primary source of content delivery. “Other materials can be a source of supplemental learning,” it added.

The DepEd ALS Task Force has also prepared an inventory of learning resources to be used by field offices. “The gaps identified shall be the basis for the reproduction of learning resources,” DepEd added.

When it comes to assessment, DepEd said that ALS teachers need to prepare weekly assessment tasks for evaluation of the learners’ progress. “The module post-tests can be used for this purpose, supplemented by other teacher-made assessments.”

Briones reminded that the division ALS focal persons will monitor and provide assistance to the ALS teachers in preparing the class program. “They shall ensure that schools and learning centers are available with enough learning modules for learners to take home,” she added.

National enrollment data from DepEd showed that as of Nov. 3, there are 405,902 learners enrolled in the ALS program or 54.86 percent of last year’s total enrollment.