DepEd targets OSYs through the Abot-Alam Program

Posted March 10, 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

Education is a basic right of every Filipino.

With this, the Department of Education (DepEd) sought the assistance to enjoin all Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and concerned Government Agencies to fully support the Abot-Alam Program.

According to Alternative Learning System (ALS) DepEd Aklan Education Program Supervisor Dr. Dobie Parohinog: “DepEd Aklan has already mapped out 4, 946 Out of School Youth (OSYs).”

“OSYs identified are from 15 to 30 years old who have not yet completed basic or higher education and who are unemployed.” He added.

In this regard, Balabag Elementary School Principal Ligaya Aparicio explains that, “Abot Alam responds to the education for all targets and the attainment of Millennium Development Goals. The program is proof of the government’s continued thrust to provide all Filipinos access to quality education and ensure that no learner is left behind.”

Meanwhile, prior to the launching of the Program, DILG Memorandum Circular 2013-18 already mandated LGUs to identify OSYs in their respective barangays. Thus, LGUs would be of help to the Program by complying to this memorandum which will be used by the DepEd for OSY database.

On the other hand, technical working group composed of the different government agencies, with DepEd as lead was created to coordinate the overall planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Program.