THE accreditation and equivalency tests for the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in the elementary and high-school levels is scheduled early next year, the Department of Education (DepEd) disclosed.

Carolina Guerrero, Bureau of Alternative Learning director, said the scheduled examination, similar to the one taken by boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, is open to those who want to pursue or continue their education under the alternative education system.

Last year DepEd’s ALS got a major public-relations boost when Pacquiao passed the said examination earning his high-school diploma, qualifying him to pursue college education.

Guerrero said the ALS test will be administered to a total of 188 divisions divided in four waves. 

The first wave will be in Mindanao on February 3; followed by the Visayas and Bicol on February 10; third wave will be on February 17 at the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera regions; and fourth will be in Southern Tagalog and Metro Manila on February 24.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said that the department is intensifying the implementation of ALS to address the growing number of school dropouts and out-of-school youths.

At present there are reportedly 8 million dropouts and out-of-school youths in the country.

A MEMBER of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who was allegedly involved in the 2001 Dos Palmas kidnapping was captured by Marines in Tawi-Tawi last week.

THE chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Basic Education on Sunday sought the full implementation of the $460-million Cyber-Education Project (CEP) but insisted that it should be insulated from graft.

HOPING to stall the privatization of the government-run power -lines subsidiary, the People Opposed to Warrantless Electricity Rates (Power) and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan on Monday expressed opposition to the schedule bidding of the 25-year concession of the National Transmission Corp. (Transco).

A LAWMAKER is urging the House of Representatives to grant lifetime financial assistance to the families of those killed in the November 13 blast at the Batasan Pambansa that also injured several others.

NEARLY 43,000 former Filipinos have already reacquired their Philippine citizenship since the Bureau of Immigration (BI) started implementing the dual-citizenship law more than three years ago, Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said on Monday.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Director General Avelino Razon Jr., National Police chief, has ordered a crack- down on loose firearms in an effort to make this city gun-free.

THE accreditation and equivalency tests for the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in the elementary and high-school levels is scheduled early next year, the Department of Education (DepEd) disclosed.