PASIG CITY, July 16 (PIA) – Amid the threat of COVID-19, Education Secretary Leonor Briones shared that there are over 200,000 enrollees under the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Learning System or ALS.

During the “Tatak ng Pagbabago 2020: Pre-SONA Forum” of the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster and Participatory Governance Cluster on Wednesday, Briones said a total of 257,220 learners have enrolled under the ALS program.

“I am happy to report that for our Alternative Learning System, 257,220 learners have enrolled inspite of the fact that our working learners, itong mga nawalan ng trabaho, are still in the process of adjustment to their new situation they have enrolled also in our program,” said Briones.

The education chief stressed that education must continue, even if through blended learning, because learners cannot wait.

Briones said DepEd will implement a blended learning policy through online platforms, television, radio, and printed modular materials, which will be distributed to learners in coordination with the local government units.

According to DepEd, the ALS program is a parallel learning system that provides a practical option to the existing formal instruction. When one does not have or cannot access formal education in schools, ALS is an alternate or substitute.

ALS includes both the non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills. (PIA-NCR)