Alternative Learning System

Definition

The Alternative Learning System (ALS) is the Department of Education’s non-formal pathway to basic education for out-of-school youth and adults, institutionalized by Republic Act No. 11510 (2021). Its Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Test yields certificates equivalent to elementary or junior high school diplomas [1].

Identities (Wikipedia/Wikidata/DBpedia)

Also Known As

ALS; non-formal education; Accreditation and Equivalency Program; Abot-Alam initiative for out-of-school youth.

Examples and Analogies

ALS is a second door into the same house: a fisher or working mother studies at a community learning center, passes the A&E Test, then moves on to senior high school, TESDA training, or work — through modules and sessions instead of daily classes.

Usage Scenarios

ALS serves out-of-school children and youth, adults who never finished school, learners in remote or conflict-affected areas, incarcerated learners, and overseas Filipino workers; LGUs and NGOs host learning centers.

Strategies

Delivery blends modules, face-to-face sessions, and radio or online support; Abot-Alam maps and enrolls out-of-school youth; review classes prepare learners for the A&E Test, now aligned with the K to 12 curriculum.

Security and Safety Measures

Measures include identity validation at test centers, screening of facilitators, safeguarding minors in community venues, learner data privacy, and auditing of program funds.

Historical Context

Non-formal education dates to the 1970s; the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001 created the Bureau of Alternative Learning System; RA 11510 (2021) renamed it the Bureau of Alternative Education and expanded coverage.

Challenges and Controversies

Issues include limited funding, contractual facilitators, low completion rates, difficulty reaching millions of out-of-school youth, and pandemic disruptions to classes and testing.