DepEd ALS extends A & E application till June 30

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
June 23, 2010

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  The Department of Education (DepED) Alternative Learning System (ALS) is extending the period of application for the Accreditation and Equivalency (A & E) examination up to June 30, 2010.

It added that A & E test will be done on August 1, 2010 (Sunday) in three testing centers in Samar.

The three testing centers are in Samar National School, Catbalogan City, Calbiga Central School, Calbiga, Samar and in Sta. Margarita 1 Central Elementary School, Sta. Margarita located some 80 kilometers northwest this City.

As of the moment, some 500 applicants have been undergoing the process according to ALS Supervisor Teny Tobes.

PIA Samar chanced upon an applicant named Gerundio Lago, 19 who is a helper at a dried fish store in Barangay Ubanon, Catbalogan City.

Gerun said he will study in high school, if he passed the A & E exam and will even proceed to college until he qualifies to be a soldier.

“Gusto ko maging sundalo, amo gihapon an karuyag han akon kabugtuan,” (Trans: I want to be a soldier, my sisters also share my ambition), Gerun shared to PIA.

Although the good looking lad just reached grade 5, he said he continues reading especially during his break time when he borrows pocket books from friends.

Gerun also displayed his mathematical skills as he computed the prices of dried fish and dried squid which his boss sells.

Like Gerun, those qualified are elementary drop-outs who are at least 11 years old before examination day; secondary drop-outs who are at least 15 years old before the examination day, non-passers of previous ALS A & E tests and learners or completers of the ALS program.