On June 5, 2015, the Alternative Learning System in Mabalacat Community High School was built under the initiative and supervision of Mr. Manolito B. De Leon. The said educational program aims to bring out-of-school youth back to formal schooling. It also aims to retain those who wish to drop from regular schooling as well as to give opportunities to regular in-school students to accelerate from their current year level.
The MCHS ALS program began through the management of committed faculty members namely Ms. Merlyn C. Garcia, Mrs. Leilani P. Santos, and Mrs. Rose Ann L. Selom. After some time, the program progressed with its coordinator, Ms. Merlyn C. Garcia who is now, Mrs. Merlyn G. Sablan.
The first batch of ALS learners took their test in April 2016 where 13 of the ALS learners passed the exam. In 2019, the school achieved a total of 31 ALS passers. The MCHS ALS program has provided numerous opportunities for its learners to earn a college degree and better employment.
Mabalacat Community High School continues to live up to its pursuit of quality education upon the installation of Dr. Elenita S. Polidario as its school head in 2019. Recognizing the needs of digital learners, Dr. Polidario initially prepared the school and its faculty in producing 21st-century learners by enhancing the facilities and media equipment of instructional rooms and offices. The school also ensured its learners’ safety thru the installation of 15 CCTV units to monitor school premises.
In 2020, at the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the education system took a sudden shift and posted a challenge to all institutions to adapt the ‘new normal’ set up in education. Through the guidance and leadership of Dr. Polidario and with the commitment of dedicated teaching and non-teaching personnel as well as the supportive stakeholders, MCHS effectively and efficiently ensured learning continuity. In the absence of the traditional face-to-face classes, the school offered online, modular-digital, modular-print and blending learning modalities. This made sure that learning reaches all students who then had to yield to the mandate of the government’s health protocols. Moreover, teachers were given generous access to internet connection in the conduct of distance learning modalities thru the installation of six (6) internet modems strategically situated at the computer laboratory, head teachers office, library, conference room and faculty rooms.
To guarantee accessibility of learning resources such as the self-learning modules, learning activity sheets, video lesson and the like, the MCHS E-Library was set up and have served as the learner’s virtual library. As part of equipping and enabling, insets and trainings on the use of different learning platforms were conducted by the different departments. Short courses and individual tutorials were also offered to teachers-in-need through the school’s LRDMS Academy program.
MCHS reached out to the community through its Gulayan sa Paaralan project. A number of struggling families and sickly individuals were given healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables; learners and parents were also oriented and educated home gardening. The GPP became the school’s extension of help to learners, parents and the community
Gradually, as the health risks from the pandemic decrease, MCHS responded to the Department of Education’s call to open its doors once again to learners and conduct face-to-face classes. With the installation of Television Units in all 32 instructional rooms, four (4) study laboratories (Computer, Science, Math and TLE) and the Conference room, the learners were motivated and driven to engage in classroom learning. By strictly observing health protocols, and efficiently preparing all the learning resources, students once again enjoyed the opportunity personal interaction and learning.
At present, the school has seven (7) Head Teachers, four (4) Master Teachers, forty-five (45) Faculty Members, and three (3) Administrative Assistants.
To date, the school administration, the faculty and non-faculty members, the barangay officials, the parents/guardians, and other stakeholders collaboratively and unitedly work together to ensure that 1,128 of its learners receive accessible and quality education even in the midst of the pandemic.