“The work with ALS never stops; and as persistent as our out-of-school youth and adults who seek to further their knowledge and skills through education, the Department of Education is determined to continuously provide them with more options in life. Our tedious review of existing policies on the transition of learners and our close consultations with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) resulted in this DepEd Order, and hopefully, in better opportunities for our learners outside the formal school system,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasized.

Under the newly signed DepEd Order 27, series 2018 (DO 27), or the “Amendment to DepEd Order No. 42, s. 2015 (High School Graduates who are Eligible to Enroll in Higher Education Institutions in School Year SY 2016-2017) in Relation to the Alternative Learning System (ALS),” ALS completers who passed previous A&E Tests for High School Level, including those held in November 2017 and March 2018, are already considered high school graduates under the old curriculum.

Similarly, ALS learners who will finish the program’s high school level in 2018 are also undertaking the old curriculum, thus, are considered high school graduates when they complete the program and pass the A&E Test to be conducted in 2019. Therefore, they are also eligible to pursue higher education.

In 2016, ALS saw 96,634 of its learners pass the A&E Test-High School Level. Despite setbacks in the development of the ALS curriculum to cover SHS equivalent in formal education, its completion and full implementation is expected in 2019.

With DO 27, A&E Test-High School Level passers will now have more options after completing the program. They may choose to either, a) enroll in college/university as first year students (subject to admission policies and requirements of higher education institutions); or b) take skills development programs being offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and/or other accredited government and private skills training institutions.

These A&E passers are also given the option to enroll as Grade 11 in any public or recognized private schools offering Senior High School (SHS) and choose a specific track based on their field of interest. This is in accordance to DepEd Order No 41, s. 2015, or the “Senior High School Career Guidance Program and Early Registration.”

Respective School Division Superintendents, with the assistance of the Division Testing Coordinators, shall duly certify A&E passers by issuing a High School Level Certification based on the Certificate of Rating (COR) for the November 2017 and the March 28 tests.

Clarifications on DO 27 and/or requests for another copy of the COR must be directed to Bureau of Education Assessment (BEA) at bea.ead@deped.gov.ph (please include your complete name, A&E Test level taken, testing center address, and testing date), or visit 2F Bonifacio Building, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.