MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Some 89 folks from the municipality of Piagapo graduated from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Department of Education through the Expanded Educational Program (EEP) of the 51st Infantry Battalion (IB).
The graduates - 42 for the Basic Literacy Program, 34 for the accreditation and equivalency (A&E) Junior High School Program and 13 for (A&E) Elementary Program received their certificates of completion at the covered court of Brgy. Radapan in Piagapo town, Wednesday, June 8.
LtCol Fernando Payapaya, commanding officer of the 51st IB, said they initiated the EEP primarily to thwart the recruitment of out-of-school youth by the Daesh-inspired terrorist group.
The program also aims to contribute to improving literacy in their area of operation and provide a stepping stone to residents who were not able to pursue formal education due to some constraints.
Hindi lang lahat hinahanap namin kalaban kundi saka development at saka well-being ng mga taong nasasakupan ng [We are not only looking for the enemies but also development and well-being of the people under the] 51st IB," he said.
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| LtCol Fernando Payapaya, commanding officer of the 51st Infantry Battalion, tells ALS completers to advance to the next level of education and avoid recruitment of Dawlah Islamiyah as joining the terrorist group would not bring them a good future. (PIA Lanao del Sur |
Asliah Calandada, one of the ALS graduates, expressed her gratitude to the implementers of the program.
The 25-year-old completer said she stopped going to school to take good care of her family and that she cannot pursue formal education due to financial constraints. For her, the ALS program is an opportunity to continue her education which she sees as very important.
"Maraming estudyante ang natulungan ng ALS to learn and dream again. Salamat sa [ALS has helped many students to learn and dream again. Thanks to the] chance, knowledge at experience," she said.
Meanwhile, Payapaya said he would recommend to his successor to continue the literacy program to help more residents. He also hopes that the completers would continue their studies and advance to the next level emphasizing that the 51st IB's EEP is accredited by the education department.
Another batch of EEP-ALS learners, this time from the municipality of Madalum, will also receive their certificate of completion within this month. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)
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