DepEd Leyte underscores private support in ALS implementation

LEYTE. Marie Joy Arias, the Alternative Learning System (ALS) education program supervisor-designate of Department of Education (DepEd) in Leyte Division, congratulates a person with disability (PWD) ALS graduate from Buurauen North in Burauen, Leyte. Arias said that the support from the private sector and private individuals is important for the successful implementation of ALS education in the province. (Photo courtesy of Paz Catilogo)
LEYTE. Marie Joy Arias, the Alternative Learning System (ALS) education program supervisor-designate of Department of Education (DepEd) in Leyte Division, congratulates a person with disability (PWD) ALS graduate from Buurauen North in Burauen, Leyte. Arias said that the support from the private sector and private individuals is important for the successful implementation of ALS education in the province. (Photo courtesy of Paz Catilogo)

ALTERNATIVE Learning System (ALS) education cannot succeed like any other government programs without the support of the private sector and individuals.

Marie Joy Arias, the ALS education program supervisor-designate of Department of Education (DepEd) in Leyte Division, said this following the increasing number of students they have in 40 towns in the division.

“Right appropriation is necessary to ensure the smooth delivery of the programs and projects implementation thus the need for budget allocation from the government and to continue to build partnership with external stakeholders and the private sector,” said Arias, while acknowledging the efforts of Leyte Schools Division Superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo.

She added that ALS teachers and the division personnel “are still on the go in building more partnerships with other private sectors to be able to cater to the high number of out-of-school in the province.”

As of 2018 alone, Leyte Division had a total of 5,794 completers in 518 community learning centers all over the province.

“We have 5,635 completers in Accreditation & Equivalency and 159 completers for the Basic Literacy Program,” said Arias.

According to Arias, the division has 142 ALS teachers and five education program specialists who are implementing the various programs and projects for the out-of-school illiterates and dropouts.

In line with the implementation of Project Curriculum Reinforcement for Academic Dynamism for Leyte Empowered Educators for Excellence (Cradle) of Leyte division’s banner project “SEEDLING”, Arias said they are implementing the regular Basic Literacy Program (BLP), regular Accreditation & Equivalency Program (A&E), ALS-Education and Skills Training Project (ALS-EST), Informal Education (InfEd), Indigenous Peoples Education (IPED) in ALS, and Basic Education Madrasah Program for out-of-school-youth Muslims.

Also, the Leyte Division is introducing the Literacy Behind Bars program in Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Palo Provincial Jail, and in Carigara, Isabel, Palompon and Palo Bureau of Jail and Management Penology (BJMP).

Arias said that additional learning centers are expected this year, noting that 18 additional ALS mobile teachers were hired in December 2018 and newly-designated coordinators are already assigned in some of the newly created districts.

“Hopefully, more items will be created for the ALS to be able to hire qualified teachers and to increase the quality of education in the program,” said Arias.

She also said that a total of 3,800 A&E elementary level and secondary level completers in Leyte from the total 5,635 completers in 2018 are expected to register in the 2018 National Accreditation and Equivalency Test which is scheduled in the first quarter of 2019.

The ALS official hoped that the learners will escalate the 79.53 percent passing rate result of the Leyte Division in the 2017 A&E test where 1,218 out of its 2,160 actual takers passed the national test.

“The passers were not only regular out-of-school youth and adult learners, but there were also learners who belong to special groups like the senior citizens, Muslims, persons-with-disabilities, learners behind-bars and the indigenous peoples. With this, we can say that inclusive education indeed is evident not only in the formal system but also in ALS,” said Arias.

Meanwhile, the ALS supervisor acknowledged the support of the Leyte Provincial Government, the 40 local government units in the province and their different agencies like the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Philippine National Police, Department of Agriculture, Philippine Army, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Also, Arias thanked the assistance from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica), Knowledge Community, Plan International, Edmund Rice Ministries, The Rotary Club of Tacloban, the Rotary Club of St. Andrew-Paranaque, The City Savings Bank, Metrobank, Ikiko Foundation of France, Save the Children Philippines, Global Peace Foundation, United States Agency for International Development (USAid), Intersos, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef), Red Cross and some religious associations. (SunStar Philippines)

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