A&E Test passers can proceed to tertiary educ

PASIG CITY – Completers of the Alternative Learning System (ALS), who undertook the old basic education curriculum before the implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program and passed the Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Test-High School Level, are now eligible candidates for higher education beginning school year (SY) 2018-2019.

“The work with ALS never stops; and as persistent as our out-of-school youth and adults who seek to further their knowledge and skills through education, the Department of Education is determined to continuously provide them with more options in life. Our tedious review of existing policies on the transition of learners and our close consultations with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) resulted in this Deped Order, and hopefully, in better opportunities for our learners outside the formal school system,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

Under the newly signed DepEd Order 27, series 2018 (DO 27), or the “Amendment to DepEd Order No. 42, s. 2015 (High School Graduates who are Eligible to Enroll in Higher Education Institutions in School Year SY 2016-2017) in Relation to the Alternative Learning System (ALS),” ALS completers who passed previous A&E Tests for High School Level, including those held in November 2017 and March 2018, are already considered high school graduates under the old curriculum.

Similarly, ALS learners who will finish the program’s high school level in 2018 are also undertaking the old curriculum, thus, are considered high school graduates when they complete the program and pass the A&E Test to be conducted in 2019.

With DO 27, A&E TestHigh School Level passers will now have more options after completing the program. They may choose to either, a) enroll in college/university as first year students (subject to admission policies and requirements of higher education institutions); or b) take skills development programs being offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and/or other accredited government and private skills training institutions. DEPED