On ALS and Deped budget
Director’s Cut: (This portion features the thoughts of Atty. Alberto T. Escobarte, CESO IV, Regional Director, Deped Region 11 to all stakeholders and recipients of the efforts to improve the basic education). “Let me assure you that in the performance of my official duties and even my private acts will be guided and guarded by my Oath of Office, The Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno, the Philippine Constitution and all the laws that govern our actions.”
In her recent visit to Deped Region 11, Deped Secretary Leonor M. Briones reiterated her pronouncement upon assuming her position in July that in her administration, she would vigorously push for the implementation of Alternative Learning System (ALS) to bring education to more learners across the country.
Speaking before the education officials of Deped Region 11 headed by Regional Director Alberto T. Esbobarte, OIC – Assistant Regional Director Teresita G. Tambagan, regional chiefs, schools division superintendents and assistant superintendents at the Waling Waling Hall, Regional Office 11, Briones also announced her intention to expedite the programmed expenditures from the 2015 budget until this year to address the various needs of the Department in its quest to provide excellent services to its clienteles – the learners. She recommended to the President as part of her executive committee those who are known experts in the field of budgeting and procurement to act on the pressing matters that involved the financial aspects of governance.
Briones who came here on August 16 emphasized that President Rodrigo Duterte also believes that ALS would be a potent vehicle for a number of out of school adults just rooming around the corners of houses, villages and the hinterlands to achieve their dreams and ambitions in life.
In the same gathering, Sec. Briones also introduced Assistant Secretary GH Ambat whom she said will play a great role in resuscitating ALS implementation.
In the previous press release from Deped website, it was written that the secretary herself is a product of informal basic education during World War 2. It was further mentioned that her passion for ALS is shaped by the advocacies of a non-government organization Social Watch Philippines where she was Lead Convenor, as well as her own life experiences. It was also emphasized that Social Watch’s main thrust is increasing people’s awareness and participation in promoting social development concerns with government.
During her first flag ceremony at the DepEd Central Office in Pasig City, Briones said that one can get educated in a non-traditional way by mentioning that the Department of Education had not invented ALS then but her own experience showed that one can get educated without formal schooling.
ALS is a kind of education delivery in a non-formal setting. Learning space can be a covered court, barangay hall, church yard or any other common area in a community where the learners are. The ALS facilitators deliver lessons based on the capability of the learners. ALS is open to all learners and does not discriminate against age, gender, or ethnicity.
Graduates of ALS who passed the Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Test can get either an elementary or high school diploma and proceed to formal schooling if they so choose.
This corner hopes that the plans of the Secretary will push through to benefit all the learners of the Department so that, they too, can participate in nation building. You can access Deped Updates, latest issuances, photos and other relevant information through our website: http://www.deped.gov. ph and our Facebook Page: http:// www.facebook.com/deped.regionxi. For comments, suggestions and/ or contributions, send your email to region11@deped.gov.ph. For queries, complains and other concerns for the different schools divisions email them to davao.city@deped.gov.ph, davao.delsur@deped.gov. ph, davao.delnorte@deped.gov.ph, tagum.city@deped.gov.ph, panabo. city@deped.gov.ph, igacos@deped.gov.ph, davao.oriental@deped.gov. ph, digos.city@deped.gov.ph, mati. city@deped.gov.ph and compostela.valley@deped.gov.ph.