BONTOC, Mt. Province – In continuing efforts to eradicate illiteracy in the province, the provincial government continues its full support to alternative learning system (ALS) by allocating amount under the Special Education Fund for the honorarium of ALS facilitators.
Based on the report of Mt. Province Division Office, a total of 1,693 illiterates are enrolled in the basic literacy of the ALS program, 630 of which are enrolled in level I those who can not read and write while the other 1,063 who finished level I enrolled in level II.
There are 48 ALS facilitators hired by the provincial government and 26 ALS facilitators paid by the Department of Education. Provincially paid ALS facilitators receive an honorarium of P2,000.00 monthly for five months.
Aside from these facilitators, fourth year high school students from the public schools also conduct non formal education during week ends.
This is in compliance to the Executive Order No. 60 issued by Governor Maximo B. Dalog requiring graduating high school students in the public schools and education students of the lone tertiary institution in the province to teach at least one illiterate elder or out-of-school youth how to read and write. Student mentors shall select possible mentees in their respective barangays.
Dalog is hopeful that by 2010, the literacy rate of the province shall have reached 93-94%.**Juliet B. Saley/PIA MP
