60 inmates earn diplomas via DepEd’s alternative education

Sixty inmates at the Caloocan City jail graduate through the Alternative Learning System. (Photo: Caloocan City PIO)

MANILA, Philippines—Iron bars did not deter 60 inmates from pursuing an education.

The Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the Caloocan City Jail have been awarded diplomas for completing the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program.

“I warmly congratulate our PDLs in the city jail who recently completed the ALS program of our city. This is a significant step towards beginning a new chapter in your lives,” Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan said in a statement.

The ALS is a program under the Department of Education that offers out-of-school youth and adults a chance to acquire basic literacy and complete basic education. Serving as a practical alternative to formal education, ALS combines both non-formal and informal learning methods.

Malapitan said the ALS program not only offers an accelerated learning route for inmates who  did not complete their traditional schooling but also acts as a catalyst for their swifter reintegration into society.

A unique aspect of this program is that it can contribute towards the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), potentially hastening an inmate’s reintegration and reformation process, he said.

Commending the city jail officials, Along emphasized his administration’s dual focus: ensuring residents’ safety via anti-criminality initiatives, while simultaneously advocating for restorative justice.

“The City of Caloocan remains focused on its mission to protect our citizens against crime, but our city government also believes that some people can change themselves if given the right guidance and opportunity,” Along said.

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