House OKs alternative learning system bill

by Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star), 17 Aug 2020

MANILA, Philippines — Voting 224-0, the House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that aims to institutionalize the alternative learning system in basic education for out-of-school individuals.

Lawmakers voted online via Zoom and threw their overwhelming support behind House Bill 6910 or the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Act that seeks to guarantee equal opportunity for learners to avail themselves of systematic and alternative basic education programs.

ALS has been envisioned to serve as a parallel learning system providing a viable alternative to the existing formal education instruction for out-of-school children, youth and adults, which also include Madrasah and indigenous peoples in far-flung areas.

Under the bill, at least one ALS community learning center will be established in every municipality and city around the country, that will serve as the learning environment for the full implementation of the ALS K-12 basic education curriculum and other ALS programs.

The educational program outside the traditional school system is expected to help learners develop basic and functional literacy, life skills, and also pursue an equivalent pathway to complete basic education.

Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., principal author of HB 6910, lauded the measure’s overwhelming approval from his House colleagues.

“It is the reality that not everyone can afford to go to school and attend daily class sessions without sacrificing other basic necessities in life. There are many Filipino children who have to find food first above anything else, including education,” he said.