Upholding the rights and welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) includes providing them with opportunities for education and equipping them with the necessary life skills to succeed in all challenges while working overseas.
In search of better opportunities abroad, many OFWs left home with incomplete formal education, some even did not finish their basic education, especially among domestic helpers.
Basic education serves as a backbone for literacy development, dreams and values formation, and understanding of one’s rights; a shortfall in this educational level limits OFWs from unlocking their potential and puts them at risk of abuse.
This gap is what the partnership between the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Education (DepEd) is trying to address through the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program, which further aims to empower OFWs by fulfilling their educational goals and maximizing their potential.
Aneriam Ramos, one of the ALS teachers from SDO Panabo City, reveals to the media how she canducted her classes with her OFW learners.
Piloted in the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Panabo City in Davao del Norte through an initiative dubbed Gabay Dunong Para sa OFW, which started during the pandemic with 18 OFW learners. Through the ALS program, the initiative has produced several completers in elementary, junior high school, and senior high school.
Successful completers considered the program a ray of hope and a second chance that paved the way to realize their dreams of completing basic education despite their age, distance, and other circumstances while working abroad.
Among them is Annalyn Rizaldo, an OFW in Malaysia, who recently completed junior high school.
Rizaldo never thought that she would complete junior high school, saying that working abroad and providing for the needs of her family is her top priority.
“Napakalaking tulong nito sa akin na makapagtapos ng junior high school sa pamamagitan ng Alternative Learning System online. Para sa akin bilang isang OFW, ang akala ko wala na akong chance makagpag-aaral ulit, pero heto nabigyan ako ng chance ng Alternative Learning System,” she said.
Another successful junior high school completer is Floramie Dayaras, an OFW in Saudi Arabia. She expressed her profound gratitude to the individuals behind the program, saying that it paved the way for making her dreams a reality.
“Ang aking pangarap ay ang makapagtapos sa aking pag-aaral. Kaya lubos ang aking pasasalamat sa Alternative Learning System dahil nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon na matupad ang aking pangarap na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral,” he said.
Annalyn Rizaldo, an OFW in Malaysia and a junior high school completer, expresses that the program gave her a second chance to complete her basic education.
May Ann Gulo, a junior completer working in Saudi Arabia, says how the program serves as the light leading to the fulfillment of her dream of completing junior high school.
For May Ann Gulo, one of the junior completers working in Saudi Arabia, the program gave her hope to complete her studies.
“[Through ALS program] nahatagan ko’g pag-asa makahuman ko og eskwela… Kung wala ni, mawad-an gyud mi’g pag-laum makahuman og pag-eskwela… (I was given hope that I could finish my basic education… If not through this program, we would have lost hope of completing our basic education…),” she said.
The educational success of Rizaldo, Dayaras, and Gulo is what DMW and DepEd wanted to replicate and sustain, not only in Davao region but in the entire country. That is why DMW through Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac and the DepEd in the region, represented by DepEd-XI Regional Director Allan Farnazo, formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last November 15
in Davao City to strengthen its partnership in implementation of DMW programs, especially on education aspects.
“Before a Filipino citizen can take off to somewhere to the attainment of the dream of a better life, it begins in the way we provide them the basic foundation of life, dignity of life, quality of life, and the reason to understand and make decision in life brought about by the basic education,” he stressed.
He is optimistic that the program will boost the self-esteem of the OFWs, equip them with the right knowledge, and guide them to the future that they aspire to.
On the other hand, DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac acknowledged the vulnerability of some of the OFWs who have not completed their basic education, particularly among domestic helpers.
DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac (left) and DepEd-XI Regional Director Allan Farnazo (right) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that seeks to strengthen the partnership between DMW and DepEd in the implementation of education aspects of the reintegration programs of DMW. (Photo courtesy of DepEd XI)
“Vulnerable sila kasi yung kanilang skills lalo na yung education, kadalasan hindi nakatapos ng kolehiyo and in the case of some need to bridge themselves to be certified as having finished basic education,” he explained.
He added that giving skills and education to OFWs is a form of OFW empowerment.
“Ganun po kahalaga yung ginagawa natin ngayon, is empowering not just in terms of credentials steppingstone din ito to do further things, and it gives them the necessary confidence for having completed their educational goals and opening doors for enhancing their education,” he said.
DepEd-XI Regional Director Allan Farnazo emphasizes the relevance of basic education, not only in the holistic development of an individual but also in the attainment of national development goals. (Photo courtesy of DepEd XI)
Cacdac emphasized, “Napakalaking tulong nito sa mga kababayan nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa na mas mapabuti pa nila ang kanilang kalagayn at takatayuan sa bansang kanilnag pinatatrabhaoan.”
Meanwhile, the Gabay Dunong Para sa OFW of SDO Panabo City currently has 77 OFW learners. Seven in elementary, 54 in junior high school, and 16 in senior high school.
Other SDOs in Davao Region also have their initiative for the OFWs under the ALS program.
For SDO Davao City, it’s Project DASIG or Digital Access and Support for Innovative Growth Online Learning Delivery currently has 37 OFW learners. Three in elementary and 34 in junior high school.
SDO Davao de Oro’s APO ALS Para sa OFW has nine OFW learners for this school year. One in elementary and eight in junior high school.
The Tulong ALS – Tulong para sa Edukasyon ng OFW Gamit ang ALS of SDO Davao del Norte has 24 enrollees for this school year. All of them are in junior high school.
There are 10 OFW learners for this school year under the Project ALSHORE or ALS for Honing Overseas and Revitalized Educands of SDO Davao del Sur. One in elementary and nine in senior high school.
SDO Davao Occidental’s OTAN or Overseas Tulong Para sa ALS Learners Natin currently has five OFW learners: three in elementary and two in junior high school.
For SDO Davao Oriental, its OFW or Opportunity Flexible and Worldwide Learning currently has six enrollees for this year. All of them are in junior high school.
(Photo courtesy of DepEd XI)
The ALS Borderless Learning for OFW of SDO Digos City currently has six enrollees: five in junior high school and one in senior high school.
The Project EXPAND or Extended Program Abroad for New Directions of SDO Island Garden City of Samal has two OFW learners – all in junior high school.
The LDL ALS OFW or Long Distance Learning for OFW of SDO Mati City currently has 11 OFW learners: one in elementary and 10 in junior high school. (ASO/PIA-XI)
