by Lito Dar

BAGUIO CITY,  Tuesday March 15 – A total of 1,224 out of school youths (OSYs) and adults in the Cordillera passed the October 3, 2010 Department of Education (DepEd) Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency (A & E) Test.


According to ALS regional supervisor Gloria Felipe Felipe, the number of passers is 30.29 percent of the 4,041 who took the said A & E test. This is higher than the 21.35 percent passing rate recorded in the region in 2009.

Baguio has the highest passing rate with 256 of the 631 takers while Benguet has the most number of passers with 587 out of the 1,540 who took the said exam. In Ifugao - 173 passed, Mountain Province – 86, Kalinga- 65, Apayao - 33 and Abra with 24.

According to Felipe, the 55 who passed the elementary level A&E test may now enroll in the secondary level while the 1,169 secondary level passers may now enroll in college degree courses or may find employment or jobs that only requires a high school graduate qualification, since the A&E test certificate is just the same or comparable to a diploma.


The ALS A&E program is a certification of learning for out-of-school youths and adults. Aged 11 years old and above for elementary level and 15 years old and above for secondary level, who are unable to go to formal school or have dropped out of the formal school.

The ALS is one component of the basic education which is the major program of DepEd’s Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS). The ALS A&E Test was designed to measure the competencies of those who have not finished either a formal elementary or secondary education.
Felipe meanwhile, announced that review classes for this year’s ALS A&E test is also already ongoing and any of those interested, including those who failed in the October 2010 exam can register and join. They have to go to the ALS office in their respective areas or provinces.

Aside from the A&E test, Felipe also affirmed that ALS also provides other opportunities for their learners, which include livelihood trainings and programs. *(PIA CAR)