FOR many Alternative Learning System (ALS) teachers, the classroom extends far beyond four walls. It’s a community center, a second chance, and often a place of hope for learners who’ve fallen through the cracks of formal education.
This week, 40 newly appointed ALS teachers in Davao City were given fresh tools to carry out that mission. With the help of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd) Davao City Division hosted a two-day workshop on June 4 and 5, aimed at helping educators reimagine how they teach some of the city’s most underserved students.
The training, titled “Embracing Student-Centered Learning: Art as Expression,” focused on creative, arts-integrated approaches that engage learners through experience and self-expression. It was the first workshop of its kind in the city to receive direct support from the U.S. government.
“The Philippines and the United States have always shared a strong and enduring partnership, not only in diplomatic and economic arenas but also in education,” said Jeff McIlvenna, Regional English Language Officer at the U.S. Embassy. “We are committed to supporting Filipino educators as part of that alliance. By helping ALS teachers develop innovative, inclusive strategies, we’re investing in a future where no learner is left behind no matter their background or circumstance.”
Two American educators under the U.S. Department of State’s English Language Specialist Program led the sessions, sharing participatory techniques that promote critical thinking, creativity, and inclusion. Teachers also explored free U.S.-provided resources they can use in their communities.
For Jan Paola Bulacido, a mobile ALS teacher from Lizada, the training hit home.
“We face so many obstacles, limited resources, lack of teaching tools, economic barriers in our communities, and the need for skills that improve employability,” Bulacido explained. “That’s why this workshop is so important. It equips us with practical strategies and creative approaches that we can use immediately. It also affirms the value of what we do. It makes us feel supported and seen.”
ALS offers education to out-of-school youth and adults who cannot attend formal school due to poverty, conflict, distance, or personal circumstances. That makes the role of ALS teachers especially complex: part mentor, part counselor, part community advocate.
“This is more than just a training, it’s a chance to directly support education reform and equity in Davao City,” said Joe Voigts, one of the U.S. language specialists. “By empowering ALS teachers with new methods and tools, we help create learning spaces where students are engaged, inspired, and encouraged to dream beyond their current limitations.”
The initiative is part of the U.S. Embassy’s broader effort to support English education and teacher development across the Philippines. Last year, its Regional English Language Office (RELO) launched successful literacy programs in Negros Occidental, English training for soldiers in Tarlac, and continued support for educators in Bohol and Leyte.
More support is on the way. RELO is rolling out five new English Access Scholarship Programs nationwide, which will provide two years of English training and life skills development for underprivileged youth.
Back in Davao City, the training left teachers feeling more prepared—and more inspired.
A 2024 national study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) found that while the Alternative Learning System (ALS) has made important progress in boosting enrollment and reaching underserved communities, challenges remain—particularly in teaching quality and student outcomes. The study highlighted the need for continued teacher training, stronger curriculum support, and greater community involvement—precisely the kind of targeted effort seen in the recent RELO-DepEd collaboration.
As global partnerships like this continue to grow, so does the hope for a more inclusive, resilient, and learner-centered education system in the Philippines—one that upholds every Filipino’s right to learn, no matter their age, location, or circumstances. DEF