MANILA – Hinimok ng House Ways and Means Committee chair ang Department of Education (DepEd) nitong Miyerkules na palawakin ang resources at dedikadong guro sa Alternative Learning System (ALS), na naging isa sa mabisang hakbang ng ahensya laban sa kahirapan.
Sinabi ni Albay Rep. Joey Salceda na isang lohikal na konklusyon hinggil sa tumaas na kahirapan dahil sa coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic ay ang pagpapalawak ng access sa ALS.
“The pandemic likely forced many to stop from their classes, and many others will likely have to work to pay off pandemic debts,” wika ni Salceda. “The ALS has been a very attractive path for learners who cannot afford to go to conventional school, but want to attain diplomas. That source of demand has increased during the pandemic.”
Binanggit ni Salceda na sa ilalim ng 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA), “hindi bababa sa” PHP559 milyon ang inilaan sa ilalim ng Flexible Learning Options (FLO) para sa pagpapatupad ng mga programang ALS, na kinabibilangan ng paghahatid ng ALS services, ALS Community Learning Centers, at para sa transportation at teaching aid allowance para sa ALS teachers at ALS community implementors.
“Since the GAA states that at least PHP559 million under the FLO item can be allotted to the ALS, we can allocate other items in that item towards ALS materials,” aniya.
Dagdag pa niya, mayroon ding PHP14.7 bilyon na inilaan para sa mga learning materials sa ilalim ng flexible learning options sa DepEd budget.
Makakatulong aniya ang ALS na ayusin ang skills gap, na tinatayang nasa 2.4 milyong manggagawa, dahil sa Covid-19 school lockdowns, gayundin ang pag-aayos ng epekto sa ekonomiya ng naturang gap, na tinatayang nasa PHP134 bilyon taun-taon.
Sinabi ni Salceda na nais din niyang makagawa ang DepEd ng catch-up plan para sa mga learning gaps na natamo dahil sa Covid-19 pandemic.
Aniya, isang hakbang na dapat gawin ng DepEd ay ang National Learning Recovery Plan na katulad ng mga plano ng pambansang pamahalaan sa employment recovery at economic growth.
“The learning gap is serious, especially as we are one of the few countries left in the world that has not yet reopened most of its schools,” wika ni Salceda.
