ALS: AN ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION

Education is one of the thrusts of the national government, which happens to be one of the best life-long gifts parents could give to their children. Even if the family lives in the third level of stratum, still parents try to give what is greatest and best for their children. But still many become victims of unwanted circumstances which results to deprivation of education.

Hon. Jesli Lapus, the former Secretary of the Department of Education, renamed and reinvented the Bureau of Non-Formal Education to Bureau of Alternative Learning System(BALS) under Executive Order No. 358 S. 2004 wherein the administration’s vision of non-formal education is fortified and embodied, whose vision is to assess the Philippines as a country where all residents, especially the marginalized individual or group of learners who could not rightfully expand access to formal education because of undesirable settings, be given identical access to quality education by enchanting an alternative learning system that will empower them to convert into dynamic labor force integral part of the society. From BALS, the Alternative Learning System came into existence. From then on, the system pushed its functions and that is to look out for the needs of those underprivileged or marginalized groups and cater to them its programs in terms of quality education which is equal to the program of the formal education. The bureau if legally and lawfully supported by the Department of Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority(TESDA).

The ALS program offers great chances for out-of-school youth and drop-outs to complete their elementary and high school education through undergoing review class which is a pre-requisite to take the acceleration and equivalency test. If they pass this program, they are as well given the chance to take a four-year course of a two-year course of their own choice. The mobile teachers do administer review classes in different areas and various institutions like in the mountainous home of Aetas, in jails for men and women, rehabilitation centers and to other remote dwellings just to reach out their target clienteles.

Aside from the aforesaid program on acceleration and equivalency test, ALS also offers trainings, and seminar workshops that develop the skills of OSYs on different fields like reflexology, body massage, cosmetology, foods and beverages preparation and others. Some livelihood projects are as well offered to them like bath, laundry soap and dishwashing liquid making. After the training, they will undergo assessment from the TESDA for accreditation and if they passed the said process, they will be TESDA-accredited and certified, meaning, ready and capable to handle a job.

The Department of Education is on paramount position to campaign to full support of the Local Government Units (LGUs), non-government organizations and concerned citizens to incorporate help in terms of materials and financial upkeep and to continue backing up the programs of the department for OSYs. In that sense, the dream of Education for all 2015 of the government will be realized gradually.

Let us not set aside what we can do for others, let us make ourselves as inspirations towards the fulfillment of the one’s aspirations which absolutely uplift his standard of living. Let us be blessings to less fortunate, deprived, depressed and underprivileged OSYs.

— oOo— The author is a Teacher III and ALS Coordinator at Arayat Central School, Arayat West District