Migration of ALS Completers to Formal Education: A Case Study

Filipinos believe education is the gateway to a better future and life. However, most students have no choice but to drop out of school. The Department of Education established a non-formal education, the Alternative Learning System, to address this issue. With the full implementation of the K-12 Program in formal education, ALS has also launched its SHS program. This case study explored why 5 ALS completers were purposely selected to enroll in the regular Senior High School Program instead of the recently opened ALS-SHS in Montol NHS. It also further investigated the challenges and difficulties these learners experienced in formal school and determined the types of support they needed. A semistructured interview was used to gather data, and the notes or transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that learners have chosen formal education for a) practical reasons: to learn skills with certifications and find better job opportunities after graduation; and b) that significant people influenced their decisions. Poor communication and digital literacy were identified as the main issues faced by these learners. Nonetheless, these learners need the most financial and moral support to succeed. It is recommended that formal schools create intervention programs to aid these learners in communication and ICT. Furthermore, the ALS-SHS program should offer TVL tracks with national certifications to attract more learners