Out-of-school youth can go to summer school

Education Secretary Armin Luistro

The Department of Education (DepEd) is inviting out-of-school youth to attend a summer class where alternative lessons will be taught using “learning-friendly strategies.”

In a statement, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the initiative was part of the department’s move to make education more accessible and inclusive to all learners.

“We are calling on children and youth who have not been to school to attend this summer class which was specifically designed for them,” said Luistro.

Called the alternative delivery mode (ADM) summer program, the class caters to all youth regardless of gender; physical, intellectual, social condition and linguistic background. This includes high school dropouts, Luistro added.

The program aims to address concerns on access and quality of education in elementary and secondary levels.

Luistro instructed all regional ADM teams to meet with division coordinators and launch a massive information campaign to reach the targeted summer class attendees.

“We are likewise enlisting the support of other education stakeholders such as parent-teachers associations, local government units, alumni associations as well as barangay personnel to help the DepEd bring these learners to the summer class,” Luistro said.

Registration was conducted during the four Saturdays of February.

Paper work, however, is required in case of loss or inadequate registration documents (such as an elementary certificate of graduation, elementary card or high school report card of the last year attended). Interested attendees are required to secure a certification from their local government and the local office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The certification should express the willingness of the institution to temporarily act as guardian and assist the prospective enrollee in the submission of the required documents.

The department did not say how many out-of-school youth actually enrolled or were able to comply with all the documentation requirements.