Around 400 Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners were awarded micro-certificates from the Department of Education (DepEd) in the past week, recognizing that they have real-life skills for employment, DepEd announced.
ALS is an alternative form of instruction for out-of-school youth, adults, and senior citizens that aims to provide formal credentials for essential competencies needed in further education and employment.
During the awarding ceremony of the Micro-Certification Program, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara commended the ALS learners, saying they are ‘proof that achieving life goals doesn’t have to be quick,’ he was quoted in the statement on Thursday. According to DepEd, the ALS Micro-Certification for Life Skills Program assesses the learners’ life skills through self-ratings, teachers, and the community.
The agency has partnerships with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and local government units to ensure that the alternative program is grounded on employability and community participation.
Studies from DepEd, Unicef, the Australian Council for Educational Research and the University of Melbourne from 2022 to 2025 validated the ‘reliability of assessing life skills through micro-certifications,’ DepEd said. DepEd also shared that a total of 2,854 ALS learners have received micro-certificates following pilot implementations in school division offices (SDOs) in Manila, Aurora, Batangas, Iriga, Lapu-Lapu, Misamis Oriental, Davao City, and South Cotavato. Additionally, DepEd stated that it plans on ‘expanding certification tools, scaling up to other SDOs, and integrating results into ALS improvement frameworks.’