THE Education Department has established a new bureau that would oversee its Alternative Learning System (ALS) program.
In a statement, Department of Education (DepEd) chief Leonor Magtolis Briones said the newly established bureau would boost the program for out-of-school youth, serving as the focal office for implementation.
“This will strengthen our initiatives, programs and policies for the out-of-school children in special cases, youth and adults as we ensure their educational continuity, for them to be able to develop basic and functional literacy, life skills, and pursue an equivalent pathway to complete basic education,” she said.
The bureau is under the Curriculum and Instruction strand, establishing communication and coordination channels, as well as implementation mechanisms within the department’s central, regional and schools division offices for the ALS program.
Briones said the bureau’s creation shows the department’s strong commitment to provide education and help its target public in achieving dreams for their betterment, and their community’s future.
Its establishment is in compliance with Republic Act 11510, or the Alternative Learning System Act.
Earlier the DepEd reported that as of November 18, the ALS enrollment for School Year 2021-2022 is at 239,616. The number is 359,749, or 60 percent, lower than last year’s 599,365.