DepEd-ALS program gives hope to 5 street sweepers, young single mother

By Carlito C. Dar

Tuesday 5th of June 2012

ORIGINAL: DepEd-ALS program gives hope to 5 street sweepers, young single mother
by Carlito C. Dar

BAGUIO CITY, June 4 (PIA) - - Five street sweepers and a young single mother were among the 388 Department of Education Alternative Learning System (DepEd – ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Test passers in Baguio City who received their diploma in a simple but meaningful graduation rites at the PFVR Gymnasium, here, Friday.

DepEd – Baguio School Division Superintendent Mary Lang-ayan led the confirmation of the graduates and the distribution of their diploma, assisted by ALS – Baguio Educational Supervisor Arthur Tiongan and other city officials headed by Congressman Bernardo Vergara and Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

Marilyn Dammit Agpes, a 63 - years old mother of nine, is among the five Burnham Park street sweepers who passed the secondary level of the ALS A&E exam. She was assisted and cherred by her children and grandchildren during her graduation.

Agpes, in an interview, expressed her gratitude for the program and those who have helped her hurdle the exam.

According to Agpes, having her high school diploma now would give her, and her fellow street sweepers-passers a chance to upgrade their working status from job order to casual employee of the City Government, which means added benefits.

Jamaica Dooc, a 19 year old single mother, who discontinued her studies due to financial problems, also expressed her gratitude to the program. WIth her diploma, she she will now have a chance to work or pursue higher education.

“I am very happy and grateful to have a high school diploma now, not only for me but especially for my child”, Dooc said.

ALS – Baguio Educational Supervisor Arthur Tiongan, disclosed the Baguio achieved an average passing rate of 80.9 percent, the highest in all ALS division in the region. 388 of their total 603 examinees have passed the October 2011 ALS A&E Test.

For the elementary level, they got a 100 percent passing rate with all of their 40 learners passing the exam. For the high school level, 348 of the 563 passed the exam for a 61.81 percent passing rate.

Tiongan, also disclosed that ALS A&E passers will have the same privilege as those who graduated from formal school. Elementary level passers could now enter high school and those who passed the secondary level could also now enroll to a higher educational institutions or pursue a technical/vocational courses.

The ALS A&E Test is a paper-and-pencil test designed to measure the competencies of those who have not finished either the formal elementary or secondary education. Passers of this test are given a certificate/diploma, certifying their competencies as comparable to graduates of the formal school system.

It is a program of the DepEd, through the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) and designed for an elementary dropout - who is at least 11 years old on or before the day of the test, and a high school dropout - who is at least 15 years old on or before the day of the test, and undergraduate older people who wish to have an elementary and high school diploma. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)

=====================================

EDITED:
DepEd-ALS program gives hope to 5 street sweepers, young single mother
by Carlito C. Dar

BAGUIO CITY, June 5 (PIA) -- Five street sweepers and a young single mother were among the 388 Department of Education Alternative Learning System (DepEd – ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Test passers in Baguio City who received their diploma in a simple but meaningful graduation rites at the PFVR Gymnasium, Friday.

DepEd-Baguio School Division Superintendent Mary Lang-ayan led the confirmation of the graduates and the distribution of their diploma, assisted by ALS – Baguio Educational Supervisor Arthur Tiongan and other city officials headed by Congressman Bernardo Vergara and Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

Marilyn Dammit Agpes, a 63-year old mother of nine, was among the five Burnham Park street sweepers who passed the secondary level of the ALS A&E exam. She was assisted and cheered by her children and grandchildren during her graduation.

In an interview, Agpes expressed her gratitude for the program and to those who have helped her hurdle the exam. According to Agpes, having her high school diploma now would give her and her fellow street sweepers-passers a chance to upgrade their working status from job order to casual employee of the city government, which means added benefits.

Jamaica Dooc, a 19-year-old single mother who discontinued her studies due to financial problems, also expressed her gratitude for the program. “I am very happy and grateful to have a high school diploma now, not only for me but especially for my child,” Dooc said. With her diploma, she will now have a chance to work or pursue higher education.

ALS-Baguio Educational Supervisor Arthur Tiongan disclosed that the Baguio achieved an average passing rate of 80.9 percent, the highest in all ALS division in the region. Three hundred eighty-eight of their 603 examinees passed the October 2011 ALS A&E Test.

For the elementary level, they got 100 percent passing rate with all of their 40 learners passing the exam. For the high school level, 348 of the 563 passed the exam, for a 61.81 percent passing rate.

Tiongan also disclosed that ALS A&E passers will have the same privilege as those who graduated from formal school. Elementary level passers could now enter high school, and those who passed the secondary level could also now enroll to higher educational institutions or pursue technical/vocational courses.

The ALS A&E Test is a paper-and-pencil test designed to measure the competencies of those who have not finished either the formal elementary or secondary education. Passers of this test are given a certificate/diploma, certifying their competencies as comparable to graduates of the formal school system.

It is a program of the DepEd through the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) and designed for elementary dropouts, who are at least 11 years old on or before the day of the test; and high school dropouts, who are at least 15 years old on or before the day of the test; and undergraduate older people who wish to have an elementary or high school diploma. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)