DepEd enlists Peñaflorida to promote ALS programs

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has enlisted 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida in its bid to aggressively promote its alternative learning system (ALS) programs meant to provide functional literacy to street children, dropouts and out-of-school youth (OSY).

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said Penaflorida, who is now private non-government organization Dynamic Teen Company chief executive officer, would be a big help since delivering ALS to disadvantaged children, with what he does best.

Luistro signed yesterday a pact with Penaflorida’s DTC to pursue a program that will broaden the access to basic education for the country’s youth and adults through non-traditional learning delivery modes.

 “Through various learning intervention programs that suit the interest of learners who face challenging situation in urban areas, our ultimate goal is to bring them back to formal school and complete their basic education,” said Luistro.

DTC is composed of concerned young people whose mission is to make a significant difference in the lives of people in slum areas especially children.

“These are people who have no access to education, hygiene and sometimes even love from their families,” added Peñaflorida.

DepEd is also expected to train DTC teachers, tutors, para-teachers, volunteers and learning facilitators who will apply different teaching modalities in community learning centers.

Among the alternative delivery modes being considered are Modified In-School, Off-School Approach (MISOSA), Enhanced Instructional Management by Parents, Community and Teachers (e-IMPACT), in the elementary level and Open High School Program and Drop-Out Rate Reduction Program in the secondary level.

“Using these approaches, we want to bring back love of learning among children and adults who have lost interest in studying,” Luistro explained.

DepEd will likewise accept test registrants among the learners of DTC in the regular Accreditation and Equivalency test, Philippine Educational Placement Test, Philippine Validating Test and other acceleration schemes administered by DepEd.

For its part, DTC will share best practices on different learning interventions which other interested parties may replicate.