It has been announced by the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) that beginning school year 2012-2013, the implementation of Kindergarten to Year 12 or K-12 Program. In this regards, many passers of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency Exams (A and E) exams given last October 2011 are wondering whether they have to take the additional 2 years (Year 11 and Year 12) of high school. As I understand it, those who passed the Secondary Level do not have to take the additional 2 years of high school. This is because those who graduated from the normal high school scheme this year can go straight to college. Since the ALS passers also got their diplomas this year, they have the same privilege as the normal high school graduates.
What I do not know right now is whether those who will take the ALS A and E exams this year shall have the same privilege as last year's passers. Is the diploma they will get next year correspond only to fourth year high school (junior high school)? If so, do they have to take another exam for the Year 11 and Year 12 (senior high school)? If not, what will be the coverage of the exams this year? These questions will be the dilemma the 2012 ALS takers will face. Does the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) has been advised by DepEd with regard to the implementation of K-12 Program and its corresponding impact on the mechanics of this year ALS exams?
DepEd, particularly BALS should address the above concerns before the next ALS A and E tests to be given in October or November 2012.
