CitySavings supports ALS in taking the road less travelled

Common knowledge dictates that a certain level of education is needed for an individual to secure gainful employment. However, many Filipinos do not have the chance to attend and finish formal basic education due to many reasons. Some drop out from schools while some have limited or no access to schools in their communities.

The Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Learning System (ALS) program was established to provide all Filipinos the chance to complete basic education in a mode that fits their distinct situations and needs.

Jenelyn Baylon, an ALS mobile teacher of Naujan West District Oriental Mindoro, took the challenge of mentoring deprived, depressed and underserved out-of-school youths and adults in her province.

She did not mind crossing mountains, fields or rivers and holding classes in makeshift classrooms in remote places.

Serving others as an educator brings her joy despite the risk. So much is her dedication to work that even her pregnancy did not deter Baylon, a mother of one, from extending education to out-of-school youths.

Last 2016 on its 50th anniversary, CitySavings started helping ALS teachers fulfill their hopes and aspirations to bring literacy to areas unreached by formal education.

“With CitySavings’ help, [I was able to] implement ALS program, conduct advocacy and social mobilization, and implement e-learning in remote areas. Learners became more active, discussions are easier, and participation rate has increased,” said Baylon.

To date, the bank has aided 933 ALS mobile teacher beneficiaries in 33 DepEd school divisions by donating laptops and LCD projectors.

“The donation has played an excellent impact to the teaching and learning process between the ALS mobile teachers, the district ALS coordinators and the learners because they were able to utilize the ALS digitized modules, which is very useful with the use of the video materials that allow the ALS learners to experience an entirely different way of learning” said Helen A. Arancon, Education Program supervisor, Division ALS focal person.

True to its commitment in providing a venue for better education and participating in the nation building, CitySavings will continue to support in addressing the learning needs of the marginalized and underserved citizens and the education sector through its CSR initiatives.