THE Cebu City Council has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu City to intensify efforts in expanding the Alternative Learning System (ALS) to address the province’s high school dropout rate.
The call comes as the province of Cebu recorded the highest number of dropouts among 20 education districts in Central Visayas during the 2023-2024 school year.
Councilor Rey Gealon has passed a resolution asking the DepEd Cebu City Division to improve the reach of the ALS program to out-of-school youths.
ALS offers a vital pathway for out-of-school youth, adults, and marginalized sectors to complete their basic education.
The resolution urged DepEd Cebu City to explore and implement strategies to increase participation in the ALS, with focus on vulnerable groups within Cebu City.
The City Council also requested barangay officials through the Association of Barangay Councils to collaborate with DepEd Cebu City.
The collaboration aims to reinforce community involvement and support for upcoming Back-to-School Campaigns.
Gealon said a concerning report revealed that 21,650 learners across 20 divisions of Central Visayas dropped out of school as of August 16, 2024.
The number includes 6,401 elementary students, 14,508 junior high school students, and 741 senior high school students, according to data from the DepEd.
The lack of interests or support and family-related issues were among the factors leading to these dropouts.
Of the total dropouts, Cebu Province accounted for 6,627, followed by Negros Oriental with 3,279, Cebu City with 2,929, Bohol with 2,536, and Lapu-Lapu City with 1,110.
In Cebu City, 828 were elementary dropouts, 2,032 from junior high school, and 69 from senior high school. / EHP