Education for out-of-school youth goes mobile By Kimberly Villegas

The innovative use of modernly-equipped mobile bus in non-formal education provides a second chance for more out-of-school youth in far off places to be reached out in Alternative Learning Systems (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) program. ALS A&E is a ten-month non-formal education course supported by USAID's Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuaLLS) Project for out-of-school-youths, drop-outs, housewives, utility workers, and senior citizens which offers basic education taught by teachers from formal school, provided you pass the A&E Test. The said mobile bus is equipped with computers, projectors, and other high-tech equipments utilized by the ALS teachers and learners which, aside from providing a more comprehensive way of learning, also helps the students to be inclined in computers. The said program is open for elementary dropouts with ages 11 and above, high school dropouts from age 15 and above, Youth and adults although in-school but overaged for Grade 6, inmates, soldiers, unemployed and underemployed, industry-based workers, housewives, maids, factory workers, and drivers. Subjects taken by the ALS learners are Kabuhayan at Likas na Yaman, Pagpapalawak ng Pananaw, Computer Skills, Mathematics, and Science, reintegrating them back to the basic formal system of education while providing livelihood skills training to prepare them for employment. ALS learners attend the said non-formal education every two or three days weekly, depending on how often they will be able to attend. ALS A&E started as a non-formal school which holds their sessions temporarily in churches, barangay halls, or in any other conducive places in the barangay. In San Miguel, Mr. Brial Gamboa heads the ALS South district and Mr. Norberto Arcilla in the North.