MANILA, July 30 — President Rodrigo Duterte, in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) held Monday, announced that among his administration’s accomplishments is on leveraging the education programs in the country.
This includes expanding the alternative learning system (ALS), and increasing the number of learners, the President said.
“We will continue to widen the scope and fully implement K to 12 that highlights skills training, learner mobility and lifelong learning among Filipinos,” he stressed.
ALS is Department of Education’s (DepEd) curriculum that reflects a set of knowledge, skills and competencies that learners can develop to meet basic education’s minimum requirement.
DepEd actually ensures that out-of-school youth and adult learners are still aligned with the K-12 program by launching the ALS-K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum this month.
Basically, the said curriculum is based on content and performance standards as well as the learning competencies. Noting that it is the agency’s mandate to ensure that no learner will be left behind, the DepEd earlier cited that this new curriculum aims to enable ALS students to have the same quality of education that would avail them of the four exits of K to 12 — higher education, employment, entrepreneurship and middle level skills development.
To enable more girls to avail of ALS, the DepEd has recently partnered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for a project called “Better Life for Out-of-School Girls to Fight Against Poverty and Injustice in the Philippines”.
This project aims to help improve the girls’ quality of life by establishing a Girls Education Center, which will be piloted in Tacloban City, Leyte, according to DepEd.
The agency also targets the girls because Education Secretary Leonor Briones believes Filipinas, especially the youth, are still dealing with gender-based disadvantages.
DepEd also explained that this project was based on a study that identified multiple challenges faced by female students that made them drop out from school.
Meanwhile, just last week, DepEd has launched the Bangkarunungan Program in Malalag District, Davao Del Sur, to reach those who are illiterate and those who were not able to finish school.
The DepEd has set up a floating community center for the out-of-school youth and adults working in the fish industry in Malalag Bay.
Classes for this program are scheduled every Wednesday and Thursday after milkfish feeding time. The floating community center, which is actually a boat, has books, modules and instructional devices in it.
Meanwhile, President Duterte has also promised to provide education to the family of fallen soldiers or policemen.
He acknowledged that members of the Armed Forces and the police are silent heroes who risk their lives everyday to protect the country.
In recognition of their valor, the government has crafted a program to provide them with comprehensive social assistance, including financial, should they meet harm in the performance of their duty.
“For the family left behind by those who fell or are rendered totally disabled in the line of duty, we shall provide shelter, health care assistance, education, and employment, President Duterte said. (Ma. Cristina C. Arayata/PNA) #DuterteSONA2017