One of ALS Community Learning Centers, the Palengkiskwela was recently re-opened last October 19, 2023, at the City Market Plaza, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Guided by Republic Act No. 11510, this CLC which is located at the heart of the City’s public market was previously closed after the public market was renovated. It is operated in partnership with the Inocencio Magtoto Memorial Foundation, Inc. (IMMFI) and the City Government of San Fernando. There are thirty-five (35) learners enrolled in this CLC which include all the market keepers and workers - 10 of them are elementary level learners, and 25 of which are secondary level learners and maintained by 1 ALS teacher, where classes are daily conducted.

21st Century ALS Educators & Facilitators

At SDO City of San Fernando, ALS teachers are now 21st-century educators for they are capacitated more than ever to meet the various demands of ALS learners. Mentoring-based meetings, training workshops about MELC-based learning resources, and the development of video lectures were conducted successively since the start of this school year. Among the training programs and projects attended and participated by ALS teachers include the following activities:

August 18-19, 2022 - Face-to-face training of ALS Senior High School and mobile teachers handling ALS SHS learners was made for the enhancement of their competencies. This was provided after DM No. 428, s. 2022 Face-to-Face Division Training on the Pilot Implementation of Alternative Learning System - Senior High School (ALS-SHS).

September 6, 13, 20, and 27 and October 4, 2022 - A series of five (5) In-Service Training (INSET) for ALS Teachers was made (via Zoom Teleconference). This series of training activities are guided by Republic Act No. 11510, the “Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Alternative Learning System Act”, which specifically aimed to (a) recapacitate ALS teachers in performing their task with the needed review of competencies and tasks required in ALS; and (b) enhances content knowledge, understanding, and pedagogical skills of ALS teachers in the conduct of ALS-based instruction.

September 29 & 30, 2022 - Provision of Face-to-Face Division Training-Workshop on Video Content Creation for the Enhancement of ALS Learning Experiences as per Division Memorandum No. 451 s. 2022. Attendees in this training are the twenty-seven (27) ALS teachers and implementers. 

September 26-30, 2022 – Participation of three (3) school heads in the Upskilling of School Heads on Inclusive Education for Luzon Cluster at Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City, Zambales, as per Memorandum DM CI 2022. With approved Travel Order No. 1081, s. 2022, Ms. Avijel L. Barro, Principal of Sindalan Elementary School, Ms. Marites D. Bayani, Principal of San Nicolas Integrated School, and Claire R. Yumul, Principal of Dolores Stand Alone Senior High School attended and participated in this 5-day upskilling activity which centered on SPED, ALS SHS and Madrasah Education Program (MEP).

September 26 - October 01, 2022 – SDO San Fernando participated in the “National Orientation of ALS Teachers on the Implementation of the Contextualized Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs)-based Alternative Learning System Senior High School (ALS SHS) Curriculum, Cluster I Training” by sending two (2) teacher-participants namely Ms. Cherrie Ann D. Basilio of Dolores Stand Alone SHS and Ma. Joseph Patrick M. Enriquez of Pampanga High School. This national training was held at Legazpi City, Albay, as per OM-BAE-OD 2022-048, with an Advisory of rescheduling from the Office of ASec G.H.S. Ambat, dated Aug. 31, 2022.

And as per DM No. 600 s. 2022, the two (2) teacher participants led the training of the twenty-one (21) ALS SHS teachers from the three (3) ALS SHS implementing schools, and fifteen (15) ALS CLC teachers last December 28, 2022, at Siduan ding Bayaning Talaturu (Hall of Teacher Heroes), of the Division Office, CSFP. A separate session about ALS Human Resource Management, Benefits, Issues, and Concerns completed this whole day activity with Ms. Sherilynne N. Mendoza and Ms. Patricia Joy P. Basa from DO Personnel Unit as guest facilitators.

October 7 & 14 and January 27, 2023 – The Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) conducted the regular series of Integrated Teachers Quarterly Mentoring (ITQM). This included the ITQM for SPED (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Quarter), as per DM No. 485, s. 2022, and DM No. 030, s. 2023. This series of activities as generally practiced, centered on how to articulate classroom and behavior management practices, which support all learners, and re-affirmation and use of strategies, tools, and technology in line with the universal design and adapt best practices for successful learning for all learners. Participants included are not only the ALS teachers but also the SPED teachers and implementors handling Learners with Disabilities (LWDs) under the Inclusive Education (IEd) program.

October 26-28, 2022 – The Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) also conducted a series of Integrated Teachers Quarterly Mentoring (ITQM). This included the ITQM for All Learning Areas & the ALS program), as per DM No. 520, s. 2022. Focus topics of this series of mentoring are (a) the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs)/ learning area — Quarter 2) (b) Assessment of Learning Outcomes and Grading (ALOG) (c) Teaching strategies & review of DLP/DLL preparations (d) Teaching reading, (e) HGP & Project V-Talk (Values Transformation through Academic & Leadership Kinship), and (f) Learning Area program/projects/activities for Quarter 2, 5Y2022-2023.

December 27, 2022 - An orientation and simulation of the conduct of the Inventory of Alternative Learning System Community Learning System were held at Siduan ding Bayaning Talaturu (Hall of Teacher Heroes) at the Division Office, CSFP as per Joint Memorandum DM-CI-2022-231 and DM No. 594 s. 2022. 

The activity provided the needed (a) orientation of enumerators on the nature, process, and reporting of inventory, (b) simulation of the actual conduct of inventory, encoding of data, and submission of documents; and the (c) training of enumerators on the overall procedure of the activity based on the given timeline. The event was facilitated by Mr. Joel P. Mallari, SDO San Fernando Focal Person, with Ms. Aimee Berana, EPSA-ALS from SDO Angeles City as guest speaker.