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Mariano Marcos State University COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION Laoag City EDUC192 SPECIAL TOPIC 2 ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM

M (ALS) Sheila Mae C. Villa Rodel Bryan C. Valdez Anthony M. Rafanan Mischelle D. Mariano Ronan Joseph B. Domingo BSE III-A

1. What is Alternative Learning System or ALS? According to WikiPilipinas, the Alternative Learning System (ALS) is a free education program implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) under the Bureau of Alternative Learning System which benefits those who cannot afford formal schooling and follows whatever is their 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. It is a parallel learning system in the Philippines that provides a practical option to the existing formal instruction. When one does not have or cannot access formal education in schools, ALS is an alternate or substitute. ALS includes both the nonformal and informal sources of knowledge and skills. 2. Why is there a need for ALS implementation in the Philippines? Many Filipinos do not have a chance to attend and finish basic education (Grades 1-6 and Year 1-4) due to many reasons. Some drop out from schools while some do not have schools in their communities. Since every Filipino has a right to free basic education, the Government set-up ALS to provide all Filipinos the chance to have access to and complete basic education in a mode that fits their distinct situations and needs. ALS aims to open more educational opportunities for Filipino citizens of different interests, capabilities of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic origins and status as well as addressing the needs of marginalized groups. The program cuts the time needed to finish high school, hence, significantly cuts the expenses as well. Aside from giving hope to the less fortunate, it also provides opportunities to Out-of-School Youths (OSY) and adults elementary and secondary school drop-outs; industry-based workers; housewives; maids; factory workers; drivers;

members of cultural minorities; indigenous people and the disabled/physically challenged (http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Alternative_Learning_System) 3. What is the basis of ALS implementation in the Philippines? The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides for the recognition and promotion of other forms of education other than formal education. Article XIV, Section 2, Paragraph (1) declares that the State shall establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society; and paragraph (4) concisely encourages nonformal, informal and indigenous learning systems as well as self-learning, independent and out-ofschool study programs particularly those that respond to community needs. The Governance Act for Basic Education otherwise known as the Republic Act 9155 stipulates the establishment of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) to provide out-of-school children, youth and adult population with basic education. 4. How does ALS work? There are two major programs on ALS that are being implemented by the Department of Education. One is Basic Literacy Program and Continuing Education Program-Accreditation and Equivalency System. Both programs are modular and flexible. This means that learning can take place anytime and anyplace, depending on the convenience and availability of the learners. According to WikiPilipinas, in ALS, students have to attend 10 months of school or 800 hours in the classroom. Then their performances are then assessed. Since ALS is a module-based learning system, students come in on a set time and choose a module to read. A quiz is given after each module to test their learning. Instead of teachers, facilitators are always present to answer any questions and sometimes lecturers would discuss a certain module. After several months, the students will take the Accreditation and Equivalency Test (AET). If they pass the test, they will be given a high school diploma and can now enroll in college. 5. What is the difference between formal school system and ALS? ALS is flexible. It is an anytime, anywhere learning. It uses interactive modules and learning sessions are usually conducted at community learning centers at an agreed schedule between the learners and the facilitator. 6. Where can we ask information about ALS in the field? Visit the nearest DepEd District and/or Division Office for information about the existing ALS learning sessions in the area. DepEd schools can also provide information about the ALS. 7. What is the curriculum used in ALS?

The teaching and learning processes and materials in the ALS are based on the Alternative Learning System curriculum that is comparable to the formal school curriculum and reflects the set of skills and competencies that learners should develop to meet the minimum requirements of basic education. 8. Who are the target learners in ALS? ALS is intended for out-of-school youth and adults who are 16 years old or older and beyond basic school age that need basic literacy skills particularly in reading, writing and simple computation. These people are usually located in far-flung communities with no or limited access to formal schools. 1. In 2004, it was estimated that 16 million or 20% of the total Philippine population were either school drop-outs or stay-outs. This population is considered the target groups of the alternative learning system. Presently, it is estimated that 12 million children of school-age are not in school which is about the same number as those in-school. 2. The first priority of ALS are the 10.5 million 16 years old and above. Meanwhile, the aggregated 5.2 million target learners that are comprised of the 6-11 years old (1.8 million) and 12-15 (3.9 million) years old are its second priority. 3. Specifically, this group of marginalized learners consists of street children, indigenous peoples, farmers, fisher folks, women, adolescents, solo parents, children in conflict areas not reached by the formal school system, rebel returnees, and others. * An elementary dropout (not enrolled in the current school year), who is at least 11 years old on or before the day of the test, may take the elementary level ALS A&E Test * A high school dropout (not enrolled in the current school year), who is at least 15 years old on or before the day of the test, may take the secondary level ALS A&E Test * Non-passers of previous ALS A&E Tests * Youth and adults although in-school but over aged for Grade 6 (more than 11 years old) or for 4th year (more than 15 years old) * Non-passers of previous ALS A&E Test/s Others (at least basically literate) who may be: * unemployed/underemployed OSYs and adults * industry-based workers, housewives, maids, factory workers, drivers * members of cultural minorities/indigenous peoples (IPs) * persons with disabilities (PWDs)/physically challenged * inmates, rebel/soldier integrees

9. Who delivers ALS? ALS is either DepED-delivered or DepED-procured. Other than DepED, many organizations and individuals deliver the ALS. This program delivery is called Non-DepED. DepED-delivered refers to the implementation arrangement where program is directly carried-out by DepED ALS implementers such as the ALS Mobile Teachers and ALS District Coordinators DepED-procured refers to the implementation arrangement where program is contracted by DepED to service providers such as non-government organizations and other government organizations. Non-DepED refers to the implementation of ALS Programs by non-DepED organizations such as Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and other Government Organizations (GOs), international donor agencies, church-based organizations and others. 10. What is a Mobile Teacher and who are the Mobile Teachers? The ALS Programs are carried out by ALS Mobile Teachers and ALS Coordinators in the 17 regions of the country. Both are DepED employed and hold regular teacher items. Mobile Teachers are specialized teachers who live among the people in remote barangays of the country to conduct the BLP for illiterate out-of-school youth and adults who are willing to learn basic literacy skills and Accreditation and Equivalency (a continuing education) for those who left formal school system or have no access to schools. The ALS Coordinators are primarily designated to harmonize ALS initiatives in a district. However, just like the Mobile Teachers, they also serve as facilitators in the delivery of the Basic Literacy Program. 11. How does learning intervention take place in the ALS? The ALS Mobile Teacher or a learning facilitator goes to a sitio or barangay with a set of learning materials to conduct learning sessions until such time that the learners have become literate before going to another sitio or barangay. However, depending on the need of the learners, the ALS Mobile Teacher goes back to a sitio or barangay for visitation and follow-up. Most of the time, instead of the learners going to the Community Learning Center, the ALS Mobile Teacher brings the learning materials to the learners to help them acquire basic literacy skills or continuing education. ALS programs are delivered in various modes such as face-to-face group learning, family or household approach, individual tutorial and others. An ICT component is being tested in the radio-based approach where learning modules are being aired in selected provinces of the country.

12. Where does learning session take place? Learning sessions take place at the Community Learning Center or at any place convenient to the learners. Teaching and learning may take place at the homes of the learners, under the shades of trees, inside a church or mosque, playground and any other available space and venue. 13. What materials are used in the ALS? The ALS utilizes learning modules. Each module is complete in itself. It contains the objectives and description of the module, learning activities, pre and post tests. Modules for the basic and lower elementary learners come with a Facilitators Guide. Meanwhile, modules for advanced elementary and secondary were designed for self-learning. In the conduct of ALS sessions, use of supplementary learning materials is being encouraged particularly those that are developed by the Facilitator to suit the local need and context and are locally available. In partnership with various organizations, both local and international, the DepED-BALS was able to adapt and or produce print and non-print learning materials to supplement the existing modules in the conduct of ALS learning sessions. Supplementary materials are important in the conduct of ALS learning sessions. Additional materials make learning sessions more effective by reinforcing newly acquired literacy skills. They also serve as springboards to a new lesson, thus, making learning more fun and interesting. Use of multi-media also gives both Facilitators and learners chance to access new information and technology and activates multisensory learning. 14. What are the areas of learning in the ALS? The learning areas in the ALS are called learning strands which are the equivalent of the subjects in the formal school system. These learning strands are: Communication Skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking (numeracy and scientific thinking) Sustainable use of Resources/Productivity (ability to earn a living through selfemployment, outside employment, entrepreneurship, sustainable use of resources and appropriate technology and productivity) Development of Self and a Sense of Community (self -development, a sense of personal and national history and identity, cultural pride and recognition and understanding of civil and political rights)

Expanding Ones World Vision (knowledge, respect and appreciation for diversity, peace and non-violent resolution of conflict, and global awareness and solidarity) 15. Is there an entrance test in the ALS? The potential learner in the ALS goes through a screening process to determine whatever past learning that he/she may have. This assessment will assist the Learning Facilitator to set-up a teaching and learning plan for a particular learner. The DepED-BALS developed an instrument for this process of assessment called the Functional Literacy Test (FLT). This FLT is a new version (of an old FLT used in the past) developed in 2006 to standardize assessment instruments in all ALS programs. The new FLT gives the entry assessment in the ALS programs a new picture altogether. The new FLT is composed of five (5) parts. These are 1) the Demographic Information Sheet (DIS), 2) Listening and Speaking, 3) Reading 4) Writing, and 5) Numeracy. There is also ALS A&E Test. The ALS A&E Test formerly the Nonformal Education A&E Test is one of the four components of the ALS A&E (then NFE A&E). It offers the successful test takers certification of learning achievements at two learning levels Elementary and Secondary that is comparable to the formal school system. The ALS A&E Tests in both levels are standardized paper and pencil-based tests and use multiple-choice test and composition writing. The test items are based on the learning competencies of the five learning strands of the ALS Curriculum. The test is divided into 2 parts: the Multiple Choice Tests and the Composition Writing. The test runs for 3 hours and 30 minutes for the Elementary Level and 4 hours and 15 minutes for the Secondary Level. The test covers the following strands (subject areas): ELEMENTARY: 3 hours and 30 minutes Multiple Choice - 3 hours Bahagi I (Communication) - 40 minutes Bahagi II (Problem Solving & Critical Thinking - 60 minutes Bahagi III (Sustainable Use of Resources & Productivity) - 40 minutes Bahagi IV (Devt. of Self & Expanding Ones World Vision) - 40 minutes Composition Writing - 30 minutes SECONDARY: 4 hours and 15 minutes Multiple Choice - 3 hours 45 minutes Bahagi I (Komunikasyon sa Filipino) - 45 minutes Bahagi II (English Communication) - 30 minutes Bahagi III (Problem Solving & Critical Thinking) - 60 minutes

Bahagi IV (Sustainable Use of Resources & Productivity) - 45 minutes Bahagi V (Devt. of Self & Expanding Ones World Vision) - 45 minutes Composition Writing - 30 minutes 16. What is the difference between Non-formal education and Informal Education? To reach this marginalized group of learners, BALS implements nonformal and informal education or education that takes place outside the formal school system. Republic Act 9155 defines Nonformal Education as any organized, systematic educational activity carried outside the framework of the formal system to provide selected types of learning to a segment of the population. On the other hand, Informal Education is defined as a lifelong process of learning by which every person acquires and accumulates knowledge, skills, attitudes and insights from daily experiences at home, at work, at play and from life itself. BALS carries out two Nonformal Education Programs: a) the Basic Literacy Program (BLP) for illiterates and the b) Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) System for elementary and high school drop-outs. BALS is currently setting up the Informal Education Curriculum that will include self-interest and life experiences programs. Initially, it has already developed a special curriculum for indigenous peoples (IPs). With this construct, greater learning needs will be addressed and funneled to promote lifelong learning in all streams of education.

Sources: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Alternative_Learning_System http://eduphil.org/forum/alternative-learning-system-accreditation-equivalency-programt-1747.html http://www.scribd.com/doc/46091918/ALS

An Interview with Mr. Santiago L. Baoec EPS, Alternative Learning System, Division of Ilocos Norte Mischelle Mariano and Rodel Bryan C. Valdez, Interviewers Q. Is the Accreditation and Equivalency Test equal to that of the Formal School? A. Yes, of course. The learning strands cover all the subject area in the formal system. Q. Since it is the same with that of the Formal School, is it just alright to enroll in the Alternative Learning System rather than in the Formal School? A. Not all can avail ALS because there is an age requirement. For the elementary, it is 11 years old and above and for the secondary, it is 16 years old and up. Dropouts from elementary and high school are allowed provided that they meet the age requirement. Q. What is the way of teaching/pedagogy of teachers towards the illiterates in Alternative Learning System? A. We have pedagogical approach. First, we just present the whole picture of the Alternative Learning System. Then, we present the learning strands. These learning strands are parallel to the formal system. They cant be discussed properly. We just provide them modules. Sometimes, we follow the formal system and we discuss with them. They do not go to school every day. There is an individual school agreement. Q. What is the required number of hours in Alternative Learning System? A. Eight hundred hours or equal to 10 months, but it doesnt mean that w hen they completed the number of hours, they will graduate. They should first pass the ALS A and E test. Q. Does an ALS student have to pay anything to avail? A. All is free. Whenever we go to advocacies like going to the barangays to encourage dropouts to enroll, we give free snacks. But that doesnt always happen. Q. Are foreigners qualified? A. I dont think so. Some countries dont have ALS except Indonesia. But when a Filipino goes to Hawaii, for example, then he will come back and take the test, he is qualified. Q. What is the salary of mobile teachers? A. The salary of mobile teachers is the same with the salary of teacher I in formal school. But the coordinators and facilitators receive only honorarium and travelling allowance. Q. Do they have the same benefits as public teachers?

A. The mobile teachers have more benefits. They have travelling allowance which is Php. 29,000.00 a year. They also have free trainings and seminars. When it comes to GSIS benefits, they also have the same benefits with that of the teachers in formal education. Q. Is the ALS program successful? What are any achievements of the ALS? A. It is successful. We have high ranking in the Regional level when it comes to the percentage of passers. We arent certain on our ranking every year because it also depends on the learners. Kung maitapat sa talagang mahina, wala ring pag-asang makapasa. So we keep on administering review, dry-run and a series of tests. In the ALS, we dont require them to take periodical tests. But to ensure that there will be more passers, we designed strategy wherein we can improve the passing rate. So we came to think of conducting periodical examination and review. We also conduct dry-run one week before the actual exam. We had 189 graduates in May 2011. In 2009, 19% passed the A & E test while in 2010 is 25 %.

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