BACOLOD City – Nine children in conflict with the law (CICL) completed the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program of the Department of Education (DepEd).
The children, who are housed at the Social Development Center in Bacolod, attended their graduation rites last Friday.
Five of them got their elementary diplomas while the other four got their high school diplomas after passing the ALS Accreditation and Equivalency test given on March 11.
ALS is DepEd’s flagship program offering non-formal education to out-of-school Filipino youth and adults who have failed to complete basic education.
Mark Philip Plaridad, ALS program specialist of DepEd-Bacolod, said the nine CICL are among the 317 ALS students who passed the exam.
DepEd needs more teachers for the ALS program, added Plaridad, citing the increasing number of enrollees every year.
Leah Deocampo, an ALS volunteer teacher in Bacolod, said she was grateful that all her CICL students passed their exams.
Deocampo shared that she had a hard time teaching the students, who believe that it was easier to earn money through the illegal drug trade.
“I had to motivate them and tell them that education is important. They will have the people’s respect and will be empowered to reach their dreams,” said Ocampo.
One of the nine CICLs who just turned 18 will be endorsed to the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.
He said he wants to continue his studies at the RRCY, adding that he wants to be an “inspiration to other young people.”
“Although we are detained, we still strive to finish school. They should not waste the opportunity given to them to pursue their education,” he stressed.
There are currently 34 CICL at the Social Development Center in the city, said center head Rosalyn Robrico. (With a report from PNA/PN)
