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Asia Pacific College offers big tuition discount for ALS passers; DepEd pays tribute to ten outstanding teachers and DepEd fetes literacy champions

Posted on September 18th By department of education communications


The Asia Pacific College (APC) of SM Foundation and IBM Philippines is opening the door for more Alternative Learning System (ALS) high school passers of the Department of Education to become its ADM (APC-Don Bosco-Manila Times College) senior high school scholars to be trained for the burgeoning Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.

The scholarship offers tuition fee discount to deserving ALS passers.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the first batch of 11 ALS passers is now enrolled at APC for a special curriculum in Grade 11 and 12 of senior high school that will lead to a high-paying job in the BPO sector.

The scholars are taking up Service Management Programs that include specialization track in business communications, service culture and principle of system thinking. Fundamentals of business processes outsourcing and an internship program in BPO companies where they will be paid a minimum wage.  APC sought ALS passers from the list provided by DepEd to go through the pilot program for Grade 11 and Grade 12 under the K to 12 basic education reform programs.

“We are grateful to APC for offering to model senior high school (ADM Higher School) in partnership with the Business Processing Association of the Philippines. This will give our ALS passers a chance to be trained in BPO Service Management while on scholarship” said Luistro.

BPAP has earlier signed an agreement with the consortium of APC, Don Bosco Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centers, and The Manila Times College to pilot the senior high school program under K to 12 in a two-year certificate course called Higher School Program with a specialization in BPO Service Management. It is a ladderized course that will give students the chance to be hired in the BPO industry in two years or have the option to proceed to a degree course in IT at APC, Nursing at the Manila Times College, or Engineering at Don Bosco.

Bureau of Alternative Learning Systems Director Carol Guerrero said the scholars see the APC offer as a ticket out of poverty. According to Guerrero, “the first batch of scholars were chosen because they made good in the Accreditation and Equivalency Test and they have the aspiration to land jobs beyond what is now available to them such as messengers, photocopiers, baggers and barkers.”

Tata P. Medado, APC Corporate Communications Director, said that they chose the ALS passers because they want to explore alternative sources of potential BPO talents beyond those from traditional sources. “The BPO business is here for the long haul and we want to produce trained BPO talents with entry level skills,” according to Medado.

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Winners of the 2012 Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) made their way to the seat of their profession—the Department of Education Central Office in Pasig where they received hearty words of encouragement from officials and personnel. Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC leads the well -wishers of the newly minted ten outstanding teachers selected from the best teaching professionals across the country.

“This is your home and you are always welcome here,” said the education chief. The year’s crop of winners were dominated by teachers in the public school. An affirmation to the thrust of the government in improving the quality of instruction in the public school system.

Winners for the Elementary Competition are: Dr. Roberto D. Santos, Jr. of Sta. Rita Elementary School (Capas, Tarlac); Nueva P. Mangaoang of Man-It Integrated School (Passi City, Iloilo); Rizal M. Vidallo of Anabu II Elementary School (Imus, Cavite); and Mariam B. Rivamonte of Santa Cruz South Central School (Santa Cruz, Marinduque).

Meanwhile, the outstanding teachers for the Secondary Competition are: Dr. Annie I. Rodriguez of Philippine Science High School – Southern Mindanao Campus (Davao City); Bonifacio D. Caculitan, Jr. of Ernesto Rondon High School (Quezon City); Marvi Lim-Castro of General Santos Special Education (SPED) Integrated School (General Santos); and Galcoso Alburo of Concepcion Integrated School (Marikina City).

Further, Dr. Hilda C. Montaño of West Visayas State University (La Paz, Iloilo City) and Dr. Catherine P. Vistro-Yu of the Ateneo de Manila University (Quezon City) are the outstanding teachers for the Higher Education Competition. The SOT gives recognition to four outstanding teachers in elementary, four in secondary and two from higher education in a nationwide annual search.

In his speech during the reception ceremony after the flag raising at the Deped compound, Luistro said that through the winners, the goal of the DepEd of providing quality education and producing competitive graduates and successful citizens of the country has become even more real. “I would like to thank our 10 outstanding teachers for your selflessness and for choosing this profession in the service of our country,” he added.

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The Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) of the Department of Education celebrates the Literacy Week by holding the 2012 National Literacy Conference and Awards from September 17 to 21 in Teachers’ Camp Baguio City.

According to Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC, the conference aims to share good practices in making literacy programs more universal. “We want to make more Filipinos functionally literate by reaching out to the unreached and marginalized members of the community,” said Luistro.

He added that the annual event would also give recognition to best practices in the implementation of literacy programs that promote peace, alleviate poverty, open livelihood opportunities and address welfare needs. The celebration of the Literacy Week, from September 2 to 8 every year is back by Presidential Proclamation No. 239.

Expected to attend the conference are bureau, centers and regional directors, superintendents, supervisors, principals and head teachers of elementary and secondary public and private schools. Also enjoined to attend are Alternative Learning Systems supervisors and coordinators and mobile teachers who cater to the country’s 30 priority barangays with the lowest literacy rates.

Also invited are local government executives, officers of government agencies, civil society and non-government organizations and corporate foundations   involved in literacy or continuing education, as well as academic institutions in charge of National Service Training Program-Literacy Training Service.

One of the highlights of the event is the awarding of the top five winners of the Search for Outstanding Implementers of the National Literacy Programs. The winners are selected from among five categories; LGU (highly-urbanized city), Independent Component, Component City, Class A Municipality and Class B Municipality for their exemplary accomplishments in literacy development.

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