Saturday, October 11, 2008 OSYs may get high school diploma
THE Department of Education (DepEd) is conducting a series of Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) test on all Sundays of October to give the country's out-of-school youths (OSYs) a chance to earn a high school diploma.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the first test was held last October 5. It targeted OSYs from Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, Central Mindanao, Caraga region, and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
On October 12, DepEd will expect examinees from Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.
Those from Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are set to take the October 19 slot.
October 26, meanwhile, is for OSYs from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Mimaropa (Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Secretary Lapus said the test will be conducted in 189 school divisions nationwide.
"This is an annual test for all out-of-school youth so they can be productive members of society even without having to attend formal school," he said.
"Lack of formal education - or dropping out of school - should not hinder anyone from getting a high school diploma," the education official added.
The A&E Test is a multiple-choice, paper-and-pencil test. It is designed to measure the competencies of those who have not finished formal elementary or secondary education.
Targets of the A&E Test include elementary and high school dropouts aged 11 and 15 years old, respectively, on or before October 5.
Industry-based workers, housewives, drivers, and maids are also welcome to take the test, according to DepEd.
Test passers are given a diploma certified by the DepEd secretary himself. "This certifies that their competencies - as revealed in their exam results - are at par with high school graduates from the formal school system," said Lapus.
He added: "The test gives a chance to both in- and out-of-school youth to pursue college. Passers, like those schooled in the formal system, are even eligible for government positions." (AH/Sunnex)
