115 DepEd Accreditation & Equivalency test passers graduate

By Rizalie A. Calibo

ENRIQUE VILLANUEVA, Sept 26 (PIA) -- At least 115 passers of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Learning System (ALS)- Accreditation & Equivalency (A&E) program from Siquijor received their diploma Friday during the 2012 ALS Day celebration and graduation of A&E test passers at the Social Center in Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor. 

Nine of the passers were for the elementary level, 103 for secondary level, and three in livelihood class earning diplomas on Computer-Basic encoding and Dressmaking from all six towns in the province. 

Siquijor Division Superintendent Joseph Irwin A. Lagura said the program is a great blessing, especially to the out-of-school youths who now have the chance to complete elementary or secondary education on their own schedule. 

The ALS A&E test is a national government program that aims to provide an "Education for All.” 

It is a free paper and pencil test which is designed to measure the competencies of those who have not finished either the formal elementary or secondary education. It offers examiners certification of learning achievements equivalent to the elementary or secondary level of the formal school. 

Passers of this test are given a certificate/diploma certifying their competencies as comparable to graduates of the formal school system, which makes them qualified to enroll in high school for elementary level passers and to enroll in any college course for secondary level passers. 

ALS, he noted, is a free education program implemented by the DepEd under the Bureau of Alternative Learning System which benefits those who cannot afford formal schooling and follows their individual available schedule. 

The program provides a viable alternative to the existing formal education instruction, encompassing both the non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills, he said. 

Lagura encouraged the graduates to pursue college and avail of the scholarship or subsidy of both the national and provincial government as he also asked the local officials to continue the initiatives for education. 

He also asked the ALS learners to share the blessings by encouraging others to also join the program. (RMN/RAC-PIA7, Siquijor)

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DepEd Siquijor celebrates ALS Day, graduation of test passers

By Rizalie A. Calibo

ENRIQUE VILLANUEVA, Sept 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) in Siquijor celebrated on September 21 the 2012 Alternative Learning System (ALS) Day and the graduation of Accreditation & Equivalency (A&E) test passers at the Social Center in Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor.

The celebration aims to create advocacy and social mobilization among the stakeholders and community on the impact of alternative learning in the improvement of the quality of life of the family, community and the country, said Schools Division Superintendent Joseph Irwin A. Lagura. 

ALS is a program that provides a viable alternative to the existing formal education instruction, encompassing both the non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills. It benefits those who cannot afford formal schooling and follows their available schedule. 

One of the highlights was the distribution of certificates to 112 successful learners who passed the 2011 A & E Test and three graduates of livelihood class in Computer Basic Encoding and Dressmaking. 

Governor Orlando A. Fua Jr, in his graduation message, lauded DepEd for the program that has contributed in improving the province’s literacy. 

ALS implementer and school principal Genevieve Aso likewise thanked the government for the efforts in extending the benefits of eliminating poverty and ignorance. 

A & E passer Sionnie Fe Dagohoy in her response said the certificate is a symbol of their sacrifices that brought them success through the guidance of their ALS teachers. 

“Kami nga wala makahimo sa pagkompleto sa among pagtuon sa sekondarya nahatagan ug paglaum ug kahigayunan nga kini among matapos pinaagi sa Alternative Learning System (We, who have not completed the secondary education, were given the chance and hope to complete through the Alternative Learning System)," she said. 

She thanked the ALS teachers and facilitators for their guidance and patience and helping them see the importance of education. 

Adding color to the celebration are quiz bee, videoke challenge, cursive writing and composition writing and different parlor games. 

“Literacy for life and Sustainable Future: Learning Together for the 21st Century,” was the theme of the celebration. (RMN/RAC-PIA7, Siquijor)