MATAAS NA KAHOY, BATANGAS – About 700 alternative learning system (ALS) mobile teachers have undergone a four-day basic survival training program to equip themselves to face the challenges of working in remote areas of the country.

Dubbed as “ALS: Activity-Based Learning Experience”, the activity was held at Galilee Place Resort in Barangay San Sebastian here from May 18 to 22. It was launched by the Bureau of Alternative Learning System of the Department of Education, Boy Scout of the Philippines, Girl Scout of the Philippines and the Philippine National Red Cross.

The activity was attended by mobile teachers from National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 1,2,3,4A, 4B and Region 5.

Included in the activity modules were physical fitness program, applying cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, International Humanitarian Law, Home Nursing, Emergency Management and Forest Survival Skills Training.

Teaching the marginalized

Carolina Guerrero, Bureau of Alternative Learning System director, in an interview with ABS-CBN said it is very necessary for them to train their mobile teachers. She said they should be equipped with what to do in case they were placed in a compromising situation during their tour of duties in rural areas.

Guerrero said the mobile teachers are those teachers who are not considered as formal school room teachers but are tasked to teach the marginalized sectors of society.

She said the ALS is a parallel learning system that provides a viable alternative to the existing formal education instruction. It encompasses both the non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills.

“The first things that the mobile teachers have to do is to coordinate with the local barangay officials to map out in a literacy mapping exercise to determine who are illiterates, drop-outs in elementary and the secondary school,” Guerrero said adding that education is a primary right of every Filipino as stated in the Constitution.

Because of this mandate, the mobile teachers should identify those people who have not been able to exercise this right, Guerrero explained.

“Once they identified the people who are not given access with this right, they will organize a community learning center in that barangay” she said.

Functional literacy test

Guerrero said everyone, regardless of age and gender, who were not able to get a formal education are qualified to join the program provided that they will undergo a functional literacy test.

“There are no required credentials to join the program, the literacy test will only determine the enrollees of their capabilities and level of literacy,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero said there are four kinds of learning modalities which the enrollees could select, these are: face to face with their mobile teachers, through radio, through computers and through independent learning mode on which they can bring home learning materials and study by themselves.

Even under the trees

She said the mobile teachers go to remote areas in the provinces or in the urban areas to conduct teaching lessons in a converted learning center such as barangay halls, day-care centers, chapel, abandoned structures and even “under the trees.”

“Sometimes the mobile teachers will have to go upland to meet the indigenous people which is so hazardous, that’s why we have to train them the basic survival techniques,” she said.

Guerrero said enrollees who finished the program will be given an elementary or high school certificate duly signed by the Secretary of the Department of Education and recognized by Commission of Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA.

Insufficient funds

Guerrero however expressed her sentiments in the continued decline in the number of additional mobile teachers which the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) provides funds for.

“DBM allocates at least 10,000 teacher items for the formal education of DepEd but the ALS is not given any quota for mobile teachers this past four years,” Guerrero lamented

In 2002 the DBM allocated for ALS for 300 items for mobile teachers, in 2003 another 300, in 2004 it declined to 150 and unfortunately zero on 2005 onwards, Guerrero added.

“Since we have a limited numbers of mobile teachers, we have to take care of them in terms of compensation package and incentives,” she explained. “Sana may additional naman silang allowance to cover their expenses in going to remote areas,” she added.

Guerrero said the mobile teachers were using habal-habal (makeshift motorcycle transports), banca or even horse to go to their designated remote barangay to teach and some have to shell out at least P200 for one-way fare.

Guerrero likewise asked the DepEd to extend a good career path for their mobile teachers, saying – “ they (mobile teachers) don’t receive any promotions, if they wish to have a promotion, they need to go back to the formal school system to acquire it”

Guerrero announced that in first week of June, the second batch of mobile teachers from Visayas and Mindanao will be having their survival training activity in Malagos in Davao City.

In the ALS training, the teachers were taught how to cook food without using any kitchen utensils, building an improvised tent using branches of leaves from trees, tracking of trails in the forest, starting up a fire, carrying a wounded colleague and many other survival trainings.