Region 9 has supported Alternative Learning System (ALS) who have shown 96 percent increase in passers of the Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Test.

DepEd Regional Director Dr. Isabelita M. Borres attended Pagadian City ALS Graduation last July 21, 2016 and in Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay on July 27. She also attended the ALS Graduation in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur on July 28.

Dr. Borres said that the Alternative Learning System (ALS) will play a big role as a support mechanism to reach out the learners who are not in school, which form part of the 6000 plus Grade 10 who have not enrolled in Grade 11.

Meanwhile, Region IX has embarked in an intensive writeshop of learning materials to promote contextualization and customization fitted for ALS.

Alternative Learning System was introduced in the Department of Education in 1977 as Non-formal Education and was later changed into Alternative Learning System. Its precursor was Adult Education Program in 1957.