“FINDING THE ALS NEMO”

            “Finding Nemo” using the Walt Disney movie is a story of a lost fish and the unrelenting search of his father to bring him back home.  Meanwhile, while out in the sea Nemo is exposed to danger and other unfamiliar surroundings and situations.                         Nemo represents the OSY (Out-of-School Youth), children and adults,…


            “Finding Nemo” using the Walt Disney movie is a story of a lost fish and the unrelenting search of his father to bring him back home.  Meanwhile, while out in the sea Nemo is exposed to danger and other unfamiliar surroundings and situations.

           

            Nemo represents the OSY (Out-of-School Youth), children and adults, school leavers and dropouts, while the BALS (Bureau of the Alternative Learning System), DALSC (District ALS Coordinators), MT (mobile Teachers), IM (Instructional Managers), Facilitators and LT (Literacy Volunteers) represent the father of Nemo, who against and odds, attempts to bring Nemo back to the education and learning track.

            According to Director Carolina S. Guerrero, “Meeting the EFA (Education for All) is the core function of the Alternative Learning system.  The concern of the ALS implementers is to look for all the Nemos, the poorest of the poor, the last, the least and the lost to join the Alternative Learning System, the program itself”.

            With the EFA target year, it is important to speed up progress towards reaching its goals.  Major bottlenecks and barriers need to be overcome through breakthrough solutions.  Acceleration of progress will only happen with greater focus and attention to unreached groups as well as to more flexible and alternative learning modes.  Far greater attention will need to be given to programs – such as equivalency programs – that use flexible approaches to reach poor and vulnerable communities in remote areas.  Such flexible programs offer different but practical pathways to reach the same goals as those reached through the formal system.

            When learning is examined within the framework of LLL (Long Life Learning), all modes of learning are seen as important: formal learning (offered through schools, training institutions and universities), non-formal learning (on-the job, community-based etc.) and informal learning (skills learned from family, visits to museum etc.).  Formal learning, though useful and very important is, in fact, only a part of the lifelong learning continuum. Alternative modes of learning are equally important and form integral parts of a Long Life Learning.

           

Credit:  Carolina S. Guerrero

                Director IV, BALS

        (The 2012 ALS Colloquium)

By: Gloria B. Crisostomo | Teacher III | District ALS Coordinator Pilar Elementary School