CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Eleven inmates from the Pampanga Provincial Jail (PPJ) were given high school and elementary diplomas yesterday through the Alternative Learning System (ALS) dubbed as “Alternatibong Edukasyon sa Likod ng Rehas na Bakal,” implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) and supported by the provincial government headed by Governor Lilia “Nanay” G. Pineda.
Two of the eleven inmates passed the ALS Accreditation and Equivalency Test (A&E) for elementary level while the remaining nine passed the ALS A&E for the secondary level.
The ALS also produced 11 Basic Literacy Program completers, 9 A&E Secondary Level completers, and 8 Elementary Level completers.
Jonathan Ace Miclat, 1st Honor of the ALS A&E secondary level batch 2011, expressed the graduates’ heartfelt gratitude to the PPJ, DepEd, and the provincial government for their support; and to the mobile teachers who spent time for their guidance and education throughout.
“Sadyang napakamapagbiro po ng buhay. Hindi ko po kasi akalain na sa pagkakapasok ko po sa piitang ito, hindi ko po akalain na dito pa po ako makakapagtapos ng pag-aaral,” Miclat shared.
Miclat also urged his co-graduates and the other inmates to always be strong and use their experiences they gained in becoming better citizens and partners in nation building.
According to Dr. Amelia Julian, DepED ALS chief in Region III, ALS is one of the programs launched by the government to give Filipino Out-of-School Youth and adults, including the inmates from the jails throughout the country, the chance to finish their schooling and have the opportunity to enter college.
DepEd has already produced 40 graduates from the provincial jail, since the ALS for the Pampanga inmates started 3 years ago.
“Sinasabi natin ang poverty hindi hindrance para makapag-aral, so ito rin. Kahit nasa rehas na bakal ka hindi rin ito hadlang para ikaw ay makapagtapos sa iyong pag-aaral at makamit ang iyong pangarap sa buhay,” Julian stated.
Meanwhile, Provincial Warden Ret. Col. Edwin Mangaliman was very proud of and happy for the inmates who graduated in this batch.
Mangiliman was also grateful for the success of ALS in the provincial jail.
According to Mangiliman, the program would not be realized without the help of DepEd and its mobile teachers and the support of Governor Pineda and the provincial government.
The warden also advised the inmates to strive harder and continue their studies as this would help them reach their goals and build better futures for themselves and their families. (Angelique DC. Tuazon, PIO Pampanga)
