STATUS OF ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM (ALS) AT THE CITY SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CABUYAO: A BASIS FOR AN IMPROVED PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

This study was conducted to determine the status of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) at the City Schools Division of Cabuyao, a basis for an improved program implementation. A total of 315 respondents, 159 Accreditation and Equivalency (A & E) Test passers and 146 non-passers, and 10 ALS Instructional Managers (IMs) participated in the study. The study utilized the descriptive method of research. The statistical treatment included the tabulation of mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient to analyze the gathered data. The results revealed that ALS teaching methods, instructional materials and facilities and community support were implemented to a moderate extent and that the instructional managers were highly competent in the implementation of the program. Findings further revealed that both the A & E passers and non-passers show improvement on their life skills and values development, particularly on their communication skills, scientific and critical thinking skills, mathematical skills, life and career skills, understanding self and society and digital citizenship. This proved that both the passer- and non- passer-respondents considered the ALS implementation an avenue in improving their life skills and values development. The research also found out that the methods of teaching are related to ALS passers' improvement in life and career skills and that community support influences their communication skills. It is suggested that IM's take appropriate steps to strengthen their instructional competence and come up with appropriate pedagogies to produce learners equipped with requisite life skills and steeped with values aligned with the learning strands of the program and that ALS implementers produce modules that are A & E Test-skills-based, values-laden, localized and contextualized to help both IMS and learners ensure mastery of life skills and values development which may lead to an increased A & E passing rate.