Global Peace Festival Foundation
Philippines
GPFF Alternative Learning System Sets Expansion to Raise Literacy Levels
on Remote and Indigenous Communities in Mindanao
Alternative Learning System as a Catalyst for Peace and Order in the
Christian-Muslim-Indigenous Communities
La Paz, situated in the coastline of Carmen, Davao del Norte in Mindanao has been a home to a multi-cultured community of Muslim-Christian and Indigenous people. Like any developing communities, providing a family income has been top priorities to the people of La Paz, making more young people choose job placements over complete tertiary education. As a community leader had quoted, “one day failure to earn is a one day sacrifice to the family.”
To cater the needs of these undergraduate workers, the Alternative Learning System started assisting 150 learners helping them in the areas of Accreditation & Equivalency and Informal Education. Though the program is starting to attract additional learners and supporters in the community, Alternative Learning System had actually launched with a rough start as cultural divisions threatened fatal actions between neighboring communities.
In an interview with Ms. Norma Gapote, District ALS Coordinator for La Paz, she recalled how La Paz National High School became a ‘killing ground’ when they first started ALS in 2010. “Most of our learners are gang members,” she said. “Gang members from the nearby city would go to La Paz armed with hand-made bows and arrows. It’s really violent. But when we told them of the opportunity on furthering their education through Alternative Learning System, they eventually come around to the idea. It’s like a miracle, the violence had stopped.”
Philippines, being one of the countries with low literacy rate, established Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System to provide a quality and flexible alternative mode of education for out of school children, youth and adults that is comparable and equivalent to the formal basic education structure. Among the target learners for the Alternative Learning System are basic and secondary school drop-outs and members of cultural minorities coming from depressed, disadvantaged and underserved communities.
Sensing the need to provide additional assistance to far-flung communities, GPFF Philippines expanded its service as a state-approved provider of Alternative Learning System by launching another 4 Community Learning Sites in Mindanao. Three community learning sites will provide Accreditation and Equivalency Program to Elementary and High school dropouts in the Muslim-Christian community of La Paz, Carmen while the community learning site in Talaingod, Davao del Norte will cater Basic Literacy Program to a community of Ati and Manobos, two of the numerous cultural minorities in Mindanao.
She continued by saying, “Few months into the program had showed noticeable improvement between the learners. It’s a huge progress to be able to resolve this conflict.”
On the other hand, eighty-three year-old Mr. Resurrecion Gil, former Mayor of Carmen, Davao del Norte in his 2nd public appearance after 29 years, had expressed his full support to ALS. Aside from the venue, he will be donating full mechanical equipments for the Informal Education training.
In partnership with Department of Education and GPFF Philippines, more La Paz ALS learners will now have the opportunity to receive their elementary and high school diplomas through accreditation and equivalency program or learn livelihood techniques through informal education. Sessions will commence on February 2012 and conclude on March 2013
Empowering Indigenous People through Basic Literacy Program
Unlike in La Paz, the Ati-Manobo tribe in Talaingod, Davao del Norte faces a different challenge in education. Due to geographic location, majority of the adults were not able to learn how to read or write.
There are ethnic, regional and gender disparities with regards to access to quality education. Overall, an unequal majority of people with limited access to education and high levels of illiteracy is found among ethnic minorities and indigenous people living in remote and economically marginalized areas.
The Ati-Manobo tribe is part of the over 14 million indigenous people in the country, most of whom are in Mindanao. They continue to live as organized communities, retaining their customs and traditions, and fighting for their rights.
“For ages, people in this community have been waiting for the chance to learn how to read and how to write. Sadly, no aid, not even an opportunity was given,” teary-eyed, tribal leader Intot Juan reminded the community during his speech. “I am indeed very grateful to the organization for answering our cries and desire to be educated and to be equally treated in the society.”
Through GPFF-ALS Basic Literacy Program, 55 learners, majority who are parents, may now have the opportunity to communicate effectively, expand his worldview and become more productive members of the community by developing himself through education.