Gatchalian seeks increased completion rates among ALS learners
February 19, 2025
Gatchalian seeks increased completion rates among ALS learners
Following the Second Congressional Commission on Education's (EDCOM II) findings on the dismal enrollment in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to address gaps in the ALS law's implementation to increase completion rates among its learners.
According to the EDCOM II's Year Two Report, enrollment in ALS averages at 600,000 annually while completion rates are alarmingly low. The report stated that for School Year 2023-2024, only 302,807 (46.2%) out of 655,517 learners completed the program. A 2021 UNICEF study revealed that the absence of financial support, the need to work, and the lack of interest contribute to high dropout rates.
Among the interventions that Gatchalian proposes is a guidance and counseling program that would encourage ALS learners to stay enrolled. He also emphasized that ALS learners should be informed about the skills that they can develop and the jobs that they can get after completing the program.
"Mahalagang maunawaan ng ating mga mag-aaral sa ALS ang mga oportunidad na maaari nilang matanggap sa ilalim ng programa. Ang ALS ay nagbibigay ng pangalawang pagkakataon sa ating mga kababayan at hindi natin ito dapat sayangin," said Gatchalian, author and sponsor of the ALS Law.
The ALS is a parallel learning system that provides a viable alternative to the existing formal education instruction. Under the "Alternative Learning System Act" (Republic Act No. 11510), the ALS was institutionalized, strengthened, and expanded to provide increased opportunities for out-of-school children in special cases and adult learners, including indigenous peoples, to pursue an equivalent pathway to complete basic education. Out-of-school children in special cases include learners with disabilities, children in conflict with the law, and learners in emergency situations.
The EDCOM also flagged that while the ALS law was signed in 2020, many of its implementing guidelines are still pending. These include the guidelines that will help LGUs to tap the Special Education Fund (SEF). Revenue regulations that will allow private institutions to receive tax incentives for contributions to ALS also remain unavailable. The Commission also flagged that DepEd has not yet released the guidelines on the recognition of private ALS providers.
Gatchalian: Bilang ng mga nakakatapos ng ALS dapat pataasin
Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Department of Education (DepEd) na tugunan ang mga kakulangan sa pagpapatupad ng batas sa Alternative Learning System (ALS) upang tumaas ang bilang ng mga mag-aaral na nakakapagtapos sa programa.
Ayon sa Year Two Report ng Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), umaabot sa 600,000 kada taon ang average na enrollment sa ALS ngunit nananatiling mababa ang bilang ng mga nagtatapos dito. Para sa School Year 2023-2024, 302,807 (46.2%) lamang sa 655,517 na mga mag-aaral sa ALS ang nakatapos sa programa. Ayon sa isang pag-aaral ng UNICEF noong 2021, ilan sa mga dahilan ng mataas na dropout rate ang kakulangan ng suportang pinansyal, ang pangangailangang makapagtrabaho na, at ang kakulangan ng interes.
Iminungkahi ni Gatchalian ang isang programa sa guidance at counseling upang hikayatin ang mga mag-aaral ng ALS na manatili sa programa. Binigyang diin niya rin na dapat malaman ng mga mag-aaral kung ano ang mga kakayahan at trabaho na maaari rin nilang makuha matapos makumpleto ang programa.
"Mahalagang maunawaan ng ating mga mag-aaral sa ALS ang mga oportunidad na maaari nilang matanggap sa ilalim ng programa. Ang ALS ay nagbibigay ng pangalawang pagkakataon sa ating mga kababayan at hindi natin ito dapat sayangin," ani Gatchalian, may akda at sponsor ng batas sa ALS.
Para sa mga hindi nakapagtapos ng kanilang pag-aaral, ang ALS ay nagbibigay ng pangalawang pagkakataon sa edukasyon. Sa ilalim ng Alternative Learning System Act" (Republic Act No. 11510), ginawang institutionalized, pinatatag, at pinalawak ang saklaw ng ALS upang mabigyan ng pagkakataong makapag-aral ang mga out-of-school children in special cases, pati na rin ang mga nakatatandang mag-aaral, kabilang ang mga indigenous peoples. Kabilang sa mga out-of-school children in special cases ang mga mag-aaral na may kapansanan, children in conflict with the law, at mga kabataang nasa gitna ng mga sakuna.
Pinuna rin ng EDCOM na bagama't nilagdaan ang batas sa ALS noong 2020, hindi pa rin lumalabas ang ilan sa mga pamantayan para sa pagpapatupad nito. Kabilang dito ang mga pamantayan para tulungan ang mga local government units na magamit ang Special Education Fund (SEF). Hindi pa rin lumalabas ang revenue regulations na magbibigay sana ng mga tax incentives para sa pribadong sektor para sa kanilang kontribusyon sa ALS. Gayundin, hindi pa rin lumalabas ang mga pamantayan para sa pagkilala sa mga pribadong ALS providers.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
