The Alternative Learning System (ALS) is a free education program implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) under the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) which benefits those who cannot afford formal schooling and follows whatever is their available schedule. The program provides a viable alternative to the existing formal education instruction, encompassing both the non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills.

It was first launched in 1984 under the name Non-Formal Education and was primarily focused on helping its learners acquire technical skills that they can use to earn a living. After getting it name changed into Alternative Learning System in 2004, its focus widened to include literacy classes that are aimed at eventually granting Elementary and High School diplomas to deserving learners who were forced to drop out of primary and secondary school.

ALS aims to open more educational opportunities for Filipino citizens of different interests, capabilities of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic origins and status as well as addressing the needs of marginalized groups.

The program cuts the time needed to finish elementary and high school, hence, significantly cuts the expenses as well. Aside from giving hope to the less fortunate, it also provides opportunities to Out-of-School Youths (OSY) and Adults elementary and secondary school drop-outs; industry-based workers; housewives; maids; factory workers; drivers; members of cultural minorities; indigenous people and disabled/physically challenged.

Classes are conducted at Community Learning Centers. Each municipality or city has a number of CLCs that interested learners can go to. These CLCs can either be a public elementary or secondary schools, a barangay hall, a room or building lent by a government agency, private company, organization, or any other vacant space where learners can gather together. In ALS, learners have to attend 10 months of school or 800 hours in the classroom. Read the rest of this entry »

It is the consensus of both authoritative educational experts and laymen that teaching is a noble mission and may be roughly divided into art and profession. As an art it carries with it certain norms which are indispensable in imparting knowledge; as a profession it comprises a broad meaning which may be aptly termed as art plus other great human assets: character, dignity, integrity, social awareness, keen grasp of things, etc. Read the rest of this entry »

Accountability is a new addition to the vocabulary of public education. It is used by school administrators, teacher institutions, classroom teachers, and the public general. It is often quoted by parents and other people who have some business or something to do with teaching.

Accountability on the part of the classroom teacher is very important. It is a measure of the teacher’s dedication to his job. Is he doing the job that he should do ? Is he doing the job commensurate to higher rates of pay and compensation he is asking for now. The public wants to know the government is using the money efficiently for public education. Parents think that if the school are going to ask for more funds and levy more taxes for the support of education the schools should show government funds are used to the best for public education.

If we put a grade five book in the hands of an 11 years old child and ask him to read the book, and then the child can read the book, then someone should be held accountable for the child. Who is accountable for the child ? Is it the teacher or the parents ?

We have to face reality. What is the main responsibility of the teacher to the children who are placed in his hands ? It is time that teacher attention should be called to his accountability to his pupils.

How accountable is the classroom teacher ? Should he be held responsible for what the pupil does or doesn’t learn singly or along with others in and out of the school ? Read the rest of this entry »

President Benigno Semion C. Aquino III initiated the new system of education. This program requires all incoming students to enroll into two more years of Basic Education.

K+12 system basically include the universal kindergarten 6 years of elementary, 4 years of junior high school with an additional 2 years for senior high school, the program also aims to uplift the quality of education in the Philippines in order for graduates to be easily employed. The proposal aims to produce employable 18 years old high school graduates by giving them a longer time to study and master employable skills.

The system aims to fully enhance and develop the students in order to be well prepared especially in emotional and cognitive aspects. The curriculum will allocate specialization in Science and Technology, Music and Arts, Agriculture and Fisheries, Sports, Business and Entrepreneurship. Read the rest of this entry »

DepEd recommends at least 1 hour of active play a day.

Library is the center of knowledge in a school, it should provide the pupils additional knowledge through reading books, magazines and other materials for research.
But a library can only serve its purpose if it can offer sufficient materials for the one using it, besides it should be conducive for learning.

A library becomes useless if no one is coming in to use it. It’s a sad thing that pupils nowadays seem no longer interested in using the library even though they have vacant period to do so.

First, the school must ensure that the library is attractive enough so that pupils find it enjoyable using it. Second, it should have sufficient and variety of books to choose from. Third, teachers should always remind the pupils the importance of going and using the library.

Its high time to look back and find out what went wrong. It’s about time to reconsider things. We believe that it’s not too late to make our library a haven for learning. Remember, reading is the father of all learning.

Of course, it’s a little bit expensive rehabilitating our school library, from its physical structure to its reading materials and equipment, but its the right time to do it. Let us invest in something that can bring additional knowledge to our pupils.

1. Study in Short, Frequent Sessions. It has been proven that short bursts of concentration repeated frequently are much more effective than one long session. So, even if you only have 10 minutes, DO IT. Take a break. Then study another 10 minutes. This “distributed learning” approach is highly efficient because it honors the way the brain likes to work. The brain needs recovery and recharging time for “protein synthesis.” The rest periods are when your brain assimilates your effort. They are a powerful tool which many teachers do not acknowledge. To sit and study for hours and hours is not only boring, it creates fatigue, stress, and distraction. You cannot learn if you are fatigued, stressed, and distracted!
2. Take Guilt-Free Days of Rest. This follows the same principle as above, but on a longer, daily time cycle. The reason for resting is to refresh oneself. However, if you feel guilty(“I really should be studying”)then your precious rest period has been used to create more stress. The brain will not absorb new data if it is stressed. On days off studying, really enjoy yourself and do not feel bad about not studying.

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In consonance with the celebration of Nutrition Month Celebration with this year’s theme “Gutom at Malnutrisyon , Sama-sama Nating Wakasan” teachers and parents must be aware of some eating disorders common among school children in order to avoid or prevent such nutritional problems.

Here are some of the eating disorders among school children :

1. Anorexia – some boys and girls experienced such problems which apparently during the change in growth and the delayed development of sexual growth.
2. Bloating and stomach pain such as stomach and gastrointestinal tract and acid re-flux are common among children who undergo such physical changes.
3. Low Blood Pressure
4. Dizziness
5. Slow process of information as part of the mental changes are connected to eating disorders.

These are some of the signs the school children suffer in eating disorders that needed to be resolved so that growing children will become healthier and choose food which are appropriate to their physical growth.

Teachers often times complain about the pupil’s attendance in school because there are children who are fond of making absences and some are habitual absentee. It’s been a concern of teachers how they can encourage this kind of school children to attend regular classes but a lot has been done and they failed.

In our modern era where modern technology is at hand and our kids are surrounded by these gadgets, we need to consider our classroom settings and it’s high time to create a wholesome classroom atmosphere where kids will be encouraged to go back to attend their classes. First, teachers need to teach all his pupils to care for each other and allow them to understand the importance of loving and accepting the members of the class. Pupils can easily adopt to the environment if there is acceptance and affirmation in the group. Peace will also prevail in the class thus, quarreling will be avoided. Creating a positive atmosphere will also help to attract kids to come to school daily. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the observations of teachers and parents today is the decline of good manners or values among kids or school children. The way they talk, they behave, deal with adults or even their simple gestures reflect the modern day living which is far, far different from the behavior of children before. A lot of behavioral problem also rise in school even at home that focuses on the manners of children. These matters were the burden of both teachers and parents today. Read the rest of this entry »