Assessment of Alternative Learning System Literacy Cum-Livelihood (Community-Based Training) Program in the Division of San Pablo City

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Education can be acquired in any way possible and can also be achieved through formal and informal means. As our 1987 Constitution mandates, education must be accessible to all, not only the formal education but the non-formal education as well. Republic Act 9155 stipulates the Alternative Learning System (ALS) as a free parallel learning system to provide a feasible alternative to the existing formal education instruction, encompassing both the non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills. This program intends to prevent the increase in the number of dropouts, out-of-school youth, and illiteracy in our country and to open more opportunities for the Filipino people.

METHODS

The descriptive type of research was used in this study. It obtained data from the ALS Literacy Cum-Livelihood (Community-Based Training) program graduates in the Division of San Pablo City from the year 2015-2017. They were the out-of-school youth, adult, and professional learners. The researcher randomly chose the respondents who were asked to answer the survey researcher-made questionnaire to assess the effectiveness of the ALS program in terms of the graduates' performance in NC II and their employability.

RESULTS

The study revealed that among the 235 graduates/respondents, half of them were male, married, aged 16-35 years old, and the majority of their mothers were housewives. They have taken their courses because they are interested and inclined in them and they believe in the relevance of the ALS program and objectives. It is revealed that the facilities should be developed and upgraded. The respondents strongly agreed that their trainers were very competent while the need for intensified and strengthened community linkages were still needed. Among the graduates, only 42 have successfully taken and passed the NCII assessment. On the respondents' profile and their job relevance, gender was the only attribute that showed a significant relationship. On the ALS program-related variables and their employability, the teacher's competence showed a significant relationship.

DISCUSSIONS

The results show that any educational program must focus on the following concerns and considerations: the learners' interest and inclinations; the programs' relevance and match for the industry-demands; the facilities’ improvement and enhanced community linkages; and the most important of all, the support given to the trainers for they help in producing the skilled workers and they assist them in getting the job that they desire.