By:

Edelma A. CortezJifford RomasantaJoana Mae CorbitaChelo Lagata Palamine

What is ALS?

Alternative Learning System

A FREE education program implemented by the DepEd

A laderized, modular non-formal education program by the Department of Education (DepEd)

The 3rd Bureau of DepEd

Benefits those who cannot afford formal schooling and follows whatever is their available schedule

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

Alternative Learning System

Teachers that are involved in this program are called “Mobile Teachers ” for reasons that they often go about teaching in rural and depressed areas where a formal classroom is not available.

EFA-ALS Vision &Mission With the Bureau of Alternative Learning System

(BALS)

With the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS), by the year 2015, the Philippines envision the attainment of a universal functional literacy brought about by excellence in non formal and informal delivery of basic education. The Alternative Learning System is an instrument to uphold the learners’ aspiration for further learning and meaningful participation in the community and society as a whole.

Who are the Target Learners of ALS?

Elementary and secondary school dropoutsYouth and Adults although in school but over-

aged for Grade 6 and 4th YearUnemployed/underemployed OSY’s and adultsIndustry-based workers, housewives, maids,

factory workers, driverMembers of cultural minorities/Indigenous

People (IPs)Persons With Disabilities (PWDs)/physically

ChallengedInmates, rebel/soldier integrees

How Does ALS Work?

Students who are interested in enrolling in an ALS class are encouraged to visit Community Learning Centers (CLCs).

Oral and written tests will be given to assess the student’s/pupil’s competency level.

Applicants who have not attended any formal schooling before will be enrolled in Basic Literacy Program where basic reading and computing skills will be taught before moving them to advanced classes.

ALS A & E classes takes a minimum of 800 hours to complete (8-10 months). The process of integration starts with the students attending a 10 month learning and review session conducted by the Mobile Teacher. After completion, performance are assessed in preparation for the Accreditation and Equivalency Test (or A&E) that will be given to these students.

How Does ALS Work?

Passers of either the Elementary or Secondary Level gets a certificate which bears the signature of the Secretary of the Department of Education. This allows a passer to be integrated into formal education and also gives them the chance to enroll for a college degree or technical courses.

Can enroll for college Enter TESDA/MeralcoFdtn./Technical Schools Enter other non-formal training programs Enter Formal training programs Look for work opportunities Enrol or re-enrol in formal elementary or secondary

education

Options and Opportunities for ALS Passers

BALS Programs & Projects

Informal Education for Disadvantaged Children

This program focuses on packaging of short-term educational activity that addresses the special needs and interests of the street and working children.  It intends to use life skills active learning approaches/strategies aimed at developing/enhancing social, civic, aesthetic, cultural, recreational physical and personal development.   The learning materials/packages may be developed/adopted/adapted or gathered from other sources and tailored-fit to the identified needs of the said users.

• Radio-Based Instruction (RBI) Program

The Radio-Based Instruction (RBI) Program is an alternative learning delivery mode using radio broadcast to deliver the ALS programs. As a form of distance learning, it is able to expand access to education by bringing it to where the learners are. It aims to provide learning opportunities to listeners and enable them to acquire equivalency in basic education through the broadcast of lessons.

Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph

BALS Programs & Projects

• Alternative Learning System for Differently-Abled Persons (ALS-DAP)

The Alternative Learning System for Differently-Abled Persons (ALS-DAP) is a project which aims to deliver Basic Literacy Program to the special/differently-abled children/OSYs/adults, e.g., hearing impaired learners who have not availed of/have no access to the formal school system through specialized approaches, e.g., sign language.

Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph

BALS Programs & Projects

• Parent Education

The Parent Education is an informal education which is a life skills short-term course that addresses the special needs and interests of the parents to promote pride in their work and ownership of their responsibilities as members of the family and their community.  

• Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH)

The Adolescent Reproductive Health is a project for out-of-school adolescents ages 9-24 years old.  It is a life skills-based education program for adolescents who are in high-risky behavior, sex-related or non-sex related behavior.

Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph

BALS Programs & Projects

Arabic Language and Islamic Values in Alternative Learning System (ALIVE in ALS) The Arabic Language and Islamic Values in Alternative Learning System (ALIVE in ALS) is designed for the Muslim Migrants to be able to positively contribute to the peace efforts of our government in order to improve that quality of life of Muslim OSY and adults.  It has components, namely; Basic Literacy Program + ALIVE; Accreditation & Equivalency (A&E) Program + ALIVE; Informal Education + ALIVE; Technical Vocational Education Program + ALIVE; and Entrepreneurship Development + ALIVE.

Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph

BALS Programs & Projects

• Indigenous Peoples Education

The Indigenous Peoples Education is a research and development project which aims to provide basic education support services to IP communities.  For IP Education, the core areas of the curriculum are: FAMILY LIFE, CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH SANITATION & NUTRITION, ECONOMICS & INCOME.This is initially implemented at the tribal communities in Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte, Gen. Nakar, Quezon, and Botolan, Zambales.

• Accreditation and Equivalency Program

The Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Program is a program aimed at providing an alternative pathway of learning for out-of-school youth and adults who are basically literate but who have not completed the 10 years of basic education mandated by the Philippine Constitution.  Through this program, school dropouts are able to complete elementary and high school education outside the school system.

Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph

BALS Programs & Projects

• Basic Literacy Program (BLP)

The Basic Literacy Program is a program aimed at eradicating illiteracy among out-of-school youth and adults (in extreme cases school-aged children) by developing basic literacy skills of reading, writing and numeracy.

• FAMILY BASIC LITERACY PROJECT(FBLP)

is a literacy service learning intervention utilizing literate family

members to help non-literate members upgrade their literacy skills and improve the educational opportunities of poor families.

Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph

BALS Programs & Projects

• ALS MOBILE TEACHER PROGRA M

makes education accessible to out-of-school youth and adults in the remote, deprived, depressed and underserved (DDU) difficult to reach communities.

• ADOLESCENT FRIENDLY LITERACYENHANCEMENT PROJECT (AFLEP)

provides target learners aged 10-19 years old with basic literacy about early marriage and parenting, family planning, drug prevention education, livelihood projects, health education and environmental education.

Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph

BALS Programs & Projects

• Out-of-SchoolAdults (BP-OSA)

is a non formaleducation program for the elementary andsecondary level of out-of-school-youth andadults delivered in selected elementaryand secondary schools teachers servingas Instructional Managers (Ims).

• Projects E-skwela Project

is designed to provide e-Learning opportunities to Filipino Out-of-school Youth and Adults who were not able to avail the opportunities laid by the formal school systema nd would like to finish their basic education, where interactive computer-based multimedia learning resources will be the primary source of instruction.

Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph

BALS Programs & Projects

• Informal Education (InfED)

is an education activity that addresses the special needs and interest of the marginalized and other interest groups of learners, making use of the life skills approach for personal development. SPECIAL PROJECT .

• Projects E-skwela Project

is designed to provide e-Learning opportunities to Filipino Out-of-school Youth and Adults who were not able to avail the opportunities laid by the formal school systema nd would like to finish their basic education, where interactive computer-based multimedia learning resources will be the primary source of instruction.

Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph

BALS Programs & Projects

ALS vs. Formal Education

SETTING

Community Learning Centers

School

ALS vs. Formal Education

TEACHER

Facilitator/instructional Manager Must be trained in ALS Must be College graduate (for A&E program) Must be HS Graduate or even less (for literacy

Programs)

Called a Classroom Teacher Must be licensed/Professional

Teacher Must be an education graduate

BSEd/BSEEd

AGE

ALS vs. Formal Education

No age requirementAge is required for every

school level.

ALS vs. Formal Education

Curriculum

With Five Learning Areas

Communication Skills Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Sustainable use of

Resources/Productivity Develop of self & sense of Community Expanding ones world vision

Formal EducationWith 5 Major Subjects

English Filipino Science Math Makabayan

ALS vs. Formal Education

LEARNING MATERIALS

Modules that are:

Self-paced Self-instructional Indigenous Integrated

Formal Education

TEXTBOOKS that are Teacher

Facilitated

ALS vs. Formal Education

TEACHING METHODOLOGY

Formal Education

Use of ANDRAGOGY – the science of adult learning

Use of PEDAGOGY – science of learning among children.

ALS vs. Formal Education

Assessment of Learning for Promotion to Next Level

Formal Education

ABL Test (For the basic Literacy Program)

A&E Test (For A&E Program)

For the elementary-equivalent and for HS-equivalent levels

End of the Year Achievement Test for all grade and high school levels.

What is the ALS A&E Test made of?

The test is divided into 2 parts: the Multiple Choice Test and the Composition Writing. The test runs for 3 hours and 30 minutes for the Elementary Level.

Secondary Level: 4 hours and 15 minutes

Multiple Choice = 3 hours

Kasanayang Pangkomunikasyon, 50 items, 45 minutesEnglish Communication Skills, 50 items, 30 minutesMatematika at Agham, 50 items, 60 minutesKabuhayan at Likas na Yaman, 50 items, 45 minutesPagpapalawak ng Pananaw, 50 items, 45 minutes

Composition Writing = 30 minutes

Sample Tests Result and Certificates

Elementary Certificate

Elementary Certificate

Changes to the Alternative Learning System (ALS) under K to 12

• For ALS to be truly parallel with the formal system and for ALS graduates not to be marginalized, ALS focuses on the teaching of the same standards and competencies of the formal system.

• It will provide various delivery modes such as graded and non-graded modules, print or non-print which will be made available online. An accreditation and equivalency test for both academic and technical skills is an important component of the program.