Taguig brings hope to school dropouts, OSY residents

About 623 school dropouts, out-of-school youth and adults will soon be given a chance to achieve their dreams of having their own diplomas as they passed the alternative education test given to them recently in Taguig City.

 The 623 test passers are among the 1,624 dropouts and out-of-school youth and adults in Taguig who have availed the city’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) program, which aims to give its beneficiaries the chance to graduate elementary and high school once they pass the ALS Accreditation and Equivalency Test.

 The result of the accreditation and equivalency test was released last June 3, to the beneficiaries who are eligible to have an elementary or high school diploma.

 Earlier this year, the Bureau of Alternative Learning System of the Department of Education in Taguig Pateros (DepEd TaPat) administered the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency Test to out-of-school youth and adults, elementary and high school dropouts.

 Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano said the ALS program is being offered to elementary and high school dropouts, as well as to out-of-school youth and adults in order to give them a fresh hope of finishing their studies.

 “This program aims to give hope and encouragement to our Taguigenos, young and adult, who failed to finish school. This is to remind them that education is still important and valuable to the well being of every person and also to the society,” Mayor Lani noted.

 Daisy Mataac, Education Program Supervisor of ALS DepEd TaPat, said the 2015 result shows a remarkable increase of test passers as compared to the 2013 record when DepEd-TaPat had about 551 passers out of the 1,675 test takers or 33.68 percent.

 This year’s test passers result is equivalent to 38.36 percent passing rate in both elementary and secondary levels.

 Mataac said the DepEd-TaPat organized a commencement exercises last June 27, to give the test passers a formal recognition.

 “This gave passers of the ALS test the chance to experience attending a solemn graduation ceremony that is comparable to students in the traditional school,” Mataac said.

 Passers of the test received certification of learning achievements at two learning levels–elementary and secondary.

 Mataac said this is to inspire community ALS learners to take the accreditation and equivalency test and aim a passing mark to get an elementary or secondary diploma.

 “The program also encourages school dropouts, out-of-school youth and adults that a bright future awaits them should they register or enroll in the ALS program,” she added. ###