For Education Secretary Leonor Briones, the strengthening of the program for learners that are outside formal education is among the “best news on education” especially under her term.

The Alternative Learning System (ALS), a parallel learning system under DepEd, provides opportunities for out-of-school youth and adult (OSYA) learners to develop basic and functional literacy skills.

When Briones became DepEd Secretary in 2016, part of her 10-point agenda for DepEd was further strengthening the ALS Program.

During the launching of Schools Division of Laoag City's Senior High School (SHS) - ALS to Out-of-School-Youth Adults (OSYA) held at Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades this month, Briones shared the gains in the program and reiterated the need to further strengthen it.

“Our ALS program is a major part of our 10-point set of agenda for the Department of Education, which we presented to the President when I assumed my term as Secretary of Education,” Briones said.

“This will bring in young learners who don't have the opportunity to attend regular school or who cannot proceed with higher education because of other responsibilities,” she explained.

DepEd said that out of the 26 learners enrolled in the said program, nine ALS students are currently enrolled in Electronic Products Assembly and Servicing (EPAS), 15 in Beauty Care, and two in Agri-Crop Production.

Briones congratulated the concerned DepEd units for the initiative of inaugurating a class for 26 learners.

“I am very, very sure that they are eager learners,” Briones said.

“And, this is one of the best news on education, strengthening of the ALS program,” she added.

To strengthen the existing 31 Barangay Community Learning Centers, DepEd said that implementers attended meetings with various barangay officials.

The SDO Laoag City said that the ALS implementers have been coordinating with the School Heads to ensure that the program is accessible to potential parent-learners.

DepEd Region I Director Tolentino Aquino said Laoag City is one of the six Schools Division in DepEd Region I who took the courage to pilot the Senior High School ALS.

“Our 27 learners here are among the 570 who are enrolled in the Senior High School ALS for the entire region,” he said as he acknowledged the assistance of the local government units in making sure that the said initiative “would be a possibility.”

Last week, DepEd also announced the creation of the Bureau of Alternative Education (BAE) an an effort to further ensure effective and efficient implementation of the ALS Program.

As stated in Department Order (DO) No. 47, series of 2021, the BAE will serve as the focal office for implementing the department's ALS Program.

“This will strengthen our initiatives, programs, and policies for the out-of-school children in special cases, youth, and adults as we ensure their educational continuity for them to be able to develop basic and functional literacy, life skills, and pursue an equivalent pathway to complete basic education,” Briones said.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/07/deped-creates-bureau-of-alternative-education-for-out-of-school-filipinos/