Aurora solon: Nonformal education key to more jobs

A legislator from Aurora province is seeking an overhaul of the country’s nonformal education sector to bring it up to par with the formal education system.

“It is about time that we bridge the gap between theory and reality, to turn ‘education for all’ from just lip service to a resounding battle cry,” said Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara in a statement.

“But the first step is to enact a law that will make it all possible,” he said.

He said he filed a bill seeking to convert the current Bureau of Non-Formal Education (BNFE) into the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) to focus on the education needs of out-of-school youths, adult learners and other sectors that are not being given access to the country’s formal education system.

“We must understand that the more among our people are educated, the more among our people get jobs, and the more among our people get jobs, the better our economy will be,” said the Aurora representative and administration candidate for senator.

“The law has long acknowledged the importance of a true alternative learning system. It is about time we give it substance in order to level the education playing field,” he said.

He said the bill that he filed will complement Republic Act No. 9155, or the “Governance of Basic Education of 2001,” that defined alternative learning.

“Nonformal education is organized and systematic while informal education is a process of learning obtained from life experiences,” said Angara.

“Both form part of what we call alternative learning,” he said. He said acknowledging nonformal education as equally important as formal education “is the first step in ensuring the smooth transfer of students from an alternative learning system to the formal sector and vice versa.”

He said putting in place an alternative learning system offers and “all inclusive” educational system where “nobody gets left behind.”

“In the North, epic songs and stories are passed from one generation to the next by individuals who never entered a classroom door,” he said.

“Down South, traditional musical instruments are forged and fabrics are woven by those who never had access to formal education,” he added.

“They are the guardians of Philippine culture who would put holders of PhDs in history, culture and the arts to shame,” said Angara.