BANGUI, Ilocos Norte – Proudly donning her gold medal and a white gown, 69-year-old Lucila Valdez Raguingan finally received her high school diploma during the recent mass graduation of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) held at this province’s municipal auditorium.
Now on its fourth year, the ALS is a free education program implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) under the Bureau of Alternative Learning System.
Like Raguingan, a native of San Nicolas town, hundreds of out-of-school youths, drop-outs, daily wage earners, housewives, maids, factory workers, inmates, rebel / soldier integrees, drivers, indigenous people and the disabled have managed to finish primary and secondary education, thanks to the ALS. The program provides a viable alternative to the existing formal schooling, and encompasses both non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills.
“Like love, age doesn’t matter, but education does,” quipped Raguingan as she joined 189 other ALS graduates during the commencement exercises.
Married at 22, this grandmother of eight recalled that she had to drop out of school when she was in junior high because of poverty. Despite that, she and her husband managed to send their three children to school. All three are now successful professionals. One is a teacher, the other an electrical engineer and another, a commerce graduate.
Inspired by her children, Raguingan realized that “education is the most important treasure we can have.”
It wasn’t smooth-sailing, she recounted. Some people laughed when they learned that she had enrolled at the ALS but she shrugged off the snickers. “Awan bibiangyo [mind your own business],” she told them. “It is my goal to finish my studies.”
After 10 months or an equivalent of 800 hours of distance learning, Raguingan found herself marching onstage to receive her diploma.
ALS is a module-based learning system that allows students to come in on a set time and to choose which module to read. Mobile teachers are available to answer the students’ questions, while lecturers would occasionally discuss some of the modules. A quiz after each module tests the students’ comprehension.
The self-learning modules can be accomplished by learners at their own convenient time. They will meet at least 3x a week during review classes prior to their oral and written examinations. Expected learning competencies are: communication skills in both English and Filipino, problem solving and critical thinking, sustainable use of resources and product, development of self and expanding one’s world vision.
Some months after, students take the Accreditation and Equivalency Test (AET). Passing marks entitle them to a high school diploma that qualifies them to enrol in college.
That’s exactly her plan, Raguingan said, adding that she’s looking at either a college degree or the short term courses offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
This free DepEd program is open to all interested learners who have to undergo a diagnostic test first. Successful test takers will be given a certification of learning achievements at two learning levels –elementary or secondary, which are comparable to the formal school system. They can then take the ALS Accreditation & Equivalency Tests in both levels, which are standardized paper- and pencil-based tests that use multiple-choices and composition writing. Target learners are Filipino Out-of-School Youth (OSY) and Adults who are basically literate and who are at least 11 years old (for elementary level test) and at least 15 (for the secondary level test).
Interested enrolees can inquire at the Department of Education Division Offices in their province whose ALS director supervises the ALS implementation in barangays, towns and provinces. Target learners are assisted by accredited ALS mobile teachers who will facilitate their enrolment and exams on pre-scheduled dates.
Raquiran has taken her graduation to heart and is interested in a career in business entrepreneurship. Says this president of the Barangay Nutrition Scholars of San Nicolas town, who is also a barangay health worker and an officer of a women’s group: “Poverty should not be a hindrance to success. We should help ourselves whenever we get the opportunity to realize our dreams.” Women’s Feature Service
