Mandaue detainees graduate from ALS

CEBU, Philippines - Some 21 inmates of the Mandaue City Jail proved being behind bars cannot stand in the way to success as they received yesterday their diplomas after completing the Alternative Learning System of the Department of Education.

Yesterday's graduates were the first batch of inmates at the Mandaue City Jail. DepEd deployed two teachers when ALS was first introduced inside the jail facility.

Ismaelita Desabille, division's ALS supervisor, said there were 40 inmates who first took the accreditation and equivalency test in October last year but only 21 of them passed.

For them to get their diplomas, they underwent learning sessions once a week for about four months before taking the test.

Most of the inmates who took the ALS got their high school diplomas, said Desabille.

Desabille also said aside from the city jail, they have already established ALS community learning centers for out-of-school youths and adults in the 22 of 27 barangays in the city.

She also said last year, 200 dropouts enrolled for an elementary diploma while 600 enrolled for a high school diploma.

Louie Batal, one of the ALS teachers assigned at the jail, said 44 inmates have enlisted for the next accreditation and equivalency test.  (FREEMAN)