by Jocelyn C. Dellosa

Even before the world was greeted by a health crisis that shocked everyone, it was already a challenge for people to find education when they have been left behind in terms of time and age. For different reasons, they oftentimes just take education for granted as they think they have been left out.

The Department of Education has found solutions for this. The Alternative Learning System (ALS) being a parallel institution that provides practical option to the existing formal education was instituted to help those who stopped schooling for whatever reason they have in order for them to push through with basic education and eventually finish until tertiary level.

Since it is a basic right for Filipinos to have education, DepEd has devised the institution of helping students who dropped out of regular school or those who do not have access to it because of the absence of schools in their communities. This way all will have equal access to finish and complete basic education in a mode that fits their individual needs and circumstances.

Because ALS values quality and equal education for all learners, learning can take place anywhere and anytime with the modular approach of teaching. This way, their schedule and convenience will be taken into consideration so that they will have better focus and understanding on the lessons whenever it is taking place. Since ALS is a community-based learning process, the teachers should have wider linkages to external stakeholders in order to help them in the holistic conduct of the course.

As a regular classroom teacher before I was transferred to ALS, I can definitely say that the alternative system needs a bigger heart on the side of the educators. It needs wider understanding in the different situations of the students. It requires a more compassionate soul in order to be more lenient and sympathetic to the parents and their students. This way, continued guidance and education is met and carried over.

In general, what the alternative Learning System is giving is the spirit of hope. The idea that one should not lose the optimism to achieve his dreams and ambitions via education should never be taken for granted. For remember, education does not question race, gender, age or social standing; it requires concentration, love for learning and an open heart to let it be the lifesaver to prevent someone from drowning from ignorance.