DepEd launches pilot program for Muslims

A pilot program of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) called the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) was launched by the regional office of the Department of Education yesterday.

ALIVE is aimed to educate Muslims living in Cebu City that would follow the methods of ALS. It also helps them to complete their elementary and secondary education.

Under the program, Muslim students will be given basic literacy classes on how to read and write in Arabic language, and will be taught the Islamic values.

Through the literacy mapping, DepEd will know those Muslims who can undergo with the program.

With the program, the learners can even graduate without formal schooling. Through the Accreditation and Equivalency Test, learners will be evaluated on the range of their learning after attending modular classes from ALS.

Among the guest speakers during yesterday’s event were Bureau of Alternative Learning System director Carolina Guerrero, DepEd undersecretary for Mindanao Affairs Manaros Boransing, DepEd regional director Carolino Mordeno, Cebu City Council committee on education chairman Gerardo Carillo, city consultant on education Joy Young and assistant schools division superintendent Woodrov Denuyo.

According to Guerrero, the Accreditation and Equivalency Test certificate is comparable to the elementary certificate or high school diploma that enables elementary or high school students to apply for entrance to high school or college.  Boransing said he was thankful to Mayor Tomas Osmeña and other city government officials for their financial support to the program.

Those out-of-school youth and other uneducated Muslims can benefit the program, Boransing added. —Jo-ana Marie P. Desuyo, CNU intern/LPM