About 585 high school and elementary students in Quezon City graduated on Sunday under the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program of the Department of Education.
The commencement exercises for ALS graduates from different public schools in Quezon City took place in Don Roces Sr. Science Technological High School.
The graduates were mostly housekeepers, mothers, and fathers, who were determined to finish primary education despite their late age.
One of the graduates, 56-year old Amado Ramores from Talisay town in Camarines Norte said poverty discouraged him from finishing his studies when he was young.
29-year old Rebecca Doronday received her high school diploma after working as a housekeeper for 14 years. Her employer helped her to enrol in the ALS program.
The ALS program was specially designed by the DepEd for out of school youth. It started as a non-formal education program but was renamed Alternative Learning System by virtue of Executive Order 356 in 2003.
The ALS program focuses on five areas namely communication arts, problem solving and critical thinking, sustainable use of resources and productivity, development of self and sense of community, and expanding one's world vision.