29 ALS scholars to work in Qatar
Twenty-nine graduates of the Philippine Army’s Literacy Patrol System from Tubungan, Iloilo are leaving the country to work in Qatar.
They were hired after completing the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System in coordination with the Philippine Army.
The 82nd Infantry Battalion launched its Army Literacy Patrol System program in Tubungan town with the aim to educate and empower less-fortunate citizens in the hinterland communities by providing them the opportunity and means to uplift their way of life through sustainable livelihood and skills training.
In partnership with the DepEd’s Bureau of Alternative Learning Systems and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the 82nd IB culminated its ALPS program in Brgy. Mayang with 29 graduates last week.
At the end of the ALPS curriculum taught by soldier-teachers, each student took an equivalency test given by the Dep-Ed ALS to qualify them as either elementary or high school graduates. All 29 students were certified by Dep-Ed as having completed the curriculum and were declared graduates.
Before enrolling in the ALPS, these scholars worked primarily as motorcycle drivers, farmers, and laborers.
Concepcion Tababa, District/Division ALS coordinator for Iloilo, said ALS is a program of the DepEd under the Bureau of Alternative Learning System, formerly called non-formal education.
It caters to the illiterates, out-of-school youths, unemployed adults, and rebel returnees.
Private First Class Marvin Cruz, ALPS team leader and soldier-teacher, said “the basic role of our Philippine Army in ALS is that we are the ones providing them with basic skills.”
“We tapped the DepEd ALS so that we can apply their program of instruction to get accreditation with the DepEd,” Cruz said.*
