DepEd offers free education to Caloocan jail inmates

MANILA, Philippines - At least 40 Caloocan City Jail inmates yesterday took the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System examinations for them to avail of the government-sponsored free education even in prison.

“This is to give them (prisoners) another chance for a new life,” Nimfa Hernaez, Caloocan City DepEd-ALS supervisor, said.

The inmates, with sanctions from the local courts and under the tight watch of the prison guards led by jail warden Superintendent Lyndon Torres, took the five-hour examination that started at 8 a.m. to 1p.m., at the Caloocan City High School.

DepEd-National Capital Region’s Rosario de Ocera said the ALS examination for the Caloocan City Jail prisoners was the first in NCR, “or could be the first in the whole country because of the initiative of the local jail management.” 

Torres said that the examinations were intended for elementary and secondary levels. Passers of the elementary exam could attend high school classes, and those who could hurdle the secondary level test would be allowed to take up college courses taught by the DepEd’s mobile teachers or the jail’s instructor.

Jail Officer 3 Kent Gamboa, currently finishing his doctorate degree in education at the Makati University, was assigned by Torres to handle classes for the inmates.

Gamboa said several firms, including the Manila Electric Co., vowed to prioritize the applications of those who finish the course.

“This is my little way of helping the inmates regain their self respect and human dignity,” Torres said. – Pete Laude