In life, fate finds its way to our destiny. Everything that happens to us is in accordance to the will of God. He works in His mysterious ways and leads us to the path of where we are destined to be, for He knows our hearts’ desire.
Who would have thought that after eleven years of teaching at Negros Oriental High School as a science teacher and four years as Public Health Nurse II assigned in Vallehermoso and Canlaon City and unexpectedly I became the Division Alternative Learning System Coordinator of DepEd Negros Oriental Division. And now, I’m looking forward on the many things that I can contribute to attain a resounding success of the ALS program in the entire Division.
Certifiably, ALS is the best alternative for those out of school youth, working individuals, and others who have not finished elementary and secondary education yet determined to pursue their education and reach their dreams and aspirations in life. As the line goes “everyone deserves a second chance”’ this laudable program of education caters a second chance to those hopefuls, a chance that will surely turn their dreams into reality. A chance to improve their lives and make it more meaningful. In the advent of this system, I realized how brilliant the Department of Education is in creating the ALS that fits the special needs of the learners.
As a Division ALS Coordinator with sixty-five ALS Implementers (teachers) in the field, it pays to know the personal background of our learners through personal interviews in order for us to understand them and be able to know the kind of strategy that we will use in teaching to make the teaching learning process effective and meaningful. These learners come from different families with different orientations. Most often, their attitudes toward school are manifestation on how they are raised by their parents. There are portions of them who come from a broken family. These learners repeatedly take the road less taken. They tend to seek love from other people. They behaved obnoxiously to get the attention from their classmates and teachers in school. These are the students who usually dropped out from the regular school and engaged in vices such as prohibited drugs, gambling, alcohol, teenage pregnancy and bullying. They need proper guidance and immediate action before everything will be too late. Others are working individuals who still would like to continue their schooling.
With my experiences as a secondary science teacher and a public health nurse for a long time, and the exciting experiences at present in the ALS program, I was amazed with the fact that there are learners who dropped out from high school yet strive hard to perform better in ALS. This is true with our students in ALS who used to be a trouble-maker when in their elementary and high school. Their attention were frequently called by the principal. But now, they have changed a lot. They are now focusing in their studies while working as a security guard, household helper at night and etc. In fact, some of them represented our division during our ALS Day Celebration and they won in the contest. It absolutely boosted their morale and motivated them to be a good and responsible person.
That proves that everyone deserves second chances in life. As long as we live, there is always a single spark of hope to change our attitude as well as our personality into a well rounded person. Someone that we all wish to become. The ALS program remains to be a gift to those who continue to possess strong courage and determination to correct their past and make a remarkable change for a better life.
As Division ALS Coordinator with 65 ALS Implementers in the field, we should have a truckload of patience to understand our learners. At the same time, simplify learning and make it meaningful to them. We will continue to make a difference in their lives, embrace challenges and hone learners to be responsible and God-fearing citizens in our country.
Donre B. Mira
Tanjay City
