Integrating Education and Skills Training in Non-formal Education

ALS-EST is one of Department of Education’s non-formal education programs. It is a variant of the Alternative Learning System, DepEd’s main vehicle for non-formal education. ALS-EST systematically integrates a skills training component into the standard academic ALS Curriculum.

With non-formal education, DepEd seeks to bridge the gap for those who have not completed basic education.

The Department of Education (DepEd), through the Office of the Secretary (OSec), shall pilot the implementation of the Alternative Learning System–Education and Skills Training (ALS–EST) in 2017-2018 to produce completers who are not only able to catch up with basic academic education, but have also acquired technical competencies suitable for immediate employment.

ALS-EST offers out-of-school youth and adults an even chance of self-improvement and a productive life.

The program covers mostly dropouts in elementary and secondary schools, out-of-school youths, non-readers, working people and even senior citizens wanting to read and write. Students enrolled under the classroom system are barred from participating in the program. Age level, economic and personal circumstances are among the determinants in availing the program.

The ALS evolved from the non-formal education that has been conducted by the government of the Philippines. Previously, non-formal education was mostly concentrated in instructions in livelihood skills training with basic reading and writing incorporated in the module. Under the current system, skills training and livelihood training have been excluded and established as a separate education system. Skills training had become a stand-alone program with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Philippines) taking charge of the program.

In comparison with formal education

The ALS is a way for the informal and busy students to achieve elementary and high school education without need of going to attend classroom instructions on a daily basis just like the formal education system. Secondary education has now become a prerequisite in vocational technology and college education in the Philippines. Livelihood trainings, however, do not need formal or non-formal education in the Philippines.

Alignment of ALS K to 12 with Formal K to 12 (By level of difficulty)

ELEMENTARY LEVEL

If a learner have not finished his elementary schooling, he/she may be admitted to the program. He/she will have to go through a Functional Literacy Test (FLT) in order for the learning facilitator to identify the level of literacy. Learning modules will be suggested to be them focus relative to the result of their FLT and interest. The learner will then be guided to accomplish an Individual Learning Agreement (ILA). This ILA will be their (learner and facilitator) basis in tracking the progress and competencies developed within the learners.

SECONDARY LEVEL

Once they pass their examination, the learner may enroll the college, prior to 2013, however from 2014 onwards, the A&E test passers may require to enroll to senior high school.

ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM (ALS)- K TO 12 BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM

Alternative Learning System–Education and Skills Training (ALS–EST) Implementing Schools

Currently on its pilot year phase (2018 to present), it has 98 implementing schools that combine the ALS K to 12 Curriculum with their Technical Vocational Livelihood offerings.

REGION I (Ilocos Region)

Batac City

• Batac National High School

Candon City

• Dr. Ricardo Gacula Memorial High School

Ilocos Norte

• Ilocos Norte Agricultural College

La Union

• Luna National Vocational High School
• San Gabriel Vocational High School

San Carlos City

• Speaker Eugenio Perez National
• Agricultural School

REGION II (Cagayan Valley)

Cagayan

• Alcala Rural School
• Baggao National Agricultural School
• Sta Margarita Annex
• Itawes National Agricultural and Technical School
• Santa Ana Fisheries Memorial High School
• Western Enrile Vocational High School

Ilagan City

• San Antonio National Agro-Industrial and Vocational High School
• San Rafael National Vocational High School

REGION III (Central Luzon)

Angeles City

• Angeles City National Trade School
• Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School

Aurora

• Maria Aurora National High School

Bataan

• Bataan School of Fisheries

Bulacan

• Guiguinto National Vocational High School

Pampanga

• Floridablanca National Agricultural School

Tarlac

• Camiling School for Home Industries
• Eduardo Cojuangco National Vocational High School

REGION IV-A (Calabarzon)

Batangas

• Bauan Technical High School

Calamba City

• Calamba Bayside National High School

Cavite

• Amaya School of Home Industries
• Tanza Trade National High School

Cavite City

• Cavite National High School

Laguna

• Magdalena Integrated National High School
• San Juan National High School
• San Pedro Relocation Center National High School

REGION IV-B (Mimaropa)

Calapan City

• Community Vocational High School

Oriental Mindoro

• Baco National High School
• Bongabong Technical and Vocational High School
• Magdalena Umali Suyong Memorial Elementary School
• Marcelo Cabrera Technical Vocational School
• Puerto Galera National High School
• San Teodoro National High School

REGION V (Bicol Region)

Albay

• Libon Agro Industrial High School

Camarines Norte

• Mercedes High School

Camarines Sur

• Ragay National Agricultural and Fisheries School
• Bikal Fisheries School

Naga City

• Camarines Sur National High School

REGION VI (Western Visayas)

Aklan

• Aklan National HS for Arts and Trades
• Buruanga Vocational School
• Libacao National Forestry Vocational High School
• Malinao School for Philippine Craftsmen
• Numancia School of Fisheries

Antique

• Antique Vocational School

Iloilo

• San Joaquin School of Fisheries

La Carlota City

• Dona Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School

Negros Occidental

• Inocencio V. Ferrer Memorial School of Fisheries

Roxas City

• Cong. Ramon Arnaldo High School

REGION VII (Eastern Visayas)

Bohol

• San Pascual National Agricultural High School

Danao City

• Elpidio H. Perez Memorial Technical-Vocational High School

Guihulngan City

• Guihulngan National Agricultural School

Naga City

• Naga National High School

REGION VIII (Eastern Visayas)

Biliran

• Naval School of Fisheries

Eastern Samar

• Lawaan National School of Craftsmanship and Home Industries
• Salcedo National Vocational High School
• Samar National Pilot Opportunity School of Agriculture
• Taft National High School

Leyte

• Calubian National High School
• Carigara National Vocational School
• Hilongos National Vocational School
• Juan Villablanca Memorial High School
• Kananga National High School
• Marcelino Veloso National High School
• San Miguel National High School
• Tanauan School of Craftsmanship and Home Industries
• Tolosa National High School

Northern Samar

• Allen National High School
• Bobon School of Philippine Craftsmen
• Catubig Valley National High School
• Mapanas Agro-Industrial High School

Southern Leyte

• Pintuyan National Vocational High School
• Silago National Vocational High School
• Villa Jacunta National Vocational School

REGION X (Northern Mindanao)

Iligan City

• Bunawan Agricultural High School
• Rogongon Agricultural High School

Misamis Oriental

• Opol National Tech School

Misamis Occidental

• Aloran Trade High School

Ozamiz City

• Ozamiz City School of Arts and Trades

REGION XI (Davao Region)

Davao City

• Baguio National School of Arts and Trades
• Elias D. Gumalang Home Industries
• Maria Cristina P. Belcar Agricultural High School
• Marilog HS of Agriculture
• Davao City National High School

Davao del Norte

• Carmen National High School

Davao Oriental

• E. Moralizon National Vocational High School

Davao del Sur

• Davao Del Sur School of Fisheries

Mati City

• Lupon Vocational High School
• Taguibo Vocational High School

Tagum City

Tagum National Trade School