CALBAYOG CITY- The Department of Education Calbayog City Division urged barangay officials to activate the Barangay Literacy Coordinating Council (BLCC) as mandated to them.
In an interview, assistant schools division superintendent Raul Agban said that barangay officials should also make sure that the said council is functional to support the literacy program in the barangay level.
“Barangay officials are mandated to form a Barangay Literacy Coordinating Council and they must make sure that said council is functional. This is part of our effort in strengthening the literacy program in the barangay,” Agban said.
The BLCC is headed by the barangay chairman; the school principal as the vice chairman and with all the barangay councilors and the Alternative Learning System (ALS) coordinator of DepEd sitting as members.
Meanwhile, DepEd Calbayog City Division ALS program coordinator Ricky Cano said that the barangay has an important role for the success of the literacy program.
Cano added that one of their predicaments when they are in the barangay is to encourage the out- of- school youth to continue their education through the program.
He encouraged the barangay officials to coordinate with DepEd’s mobile teacher and help them in the sustainability of the ALS in their respective barangays.
As of now, there are 978 out-of- school youth in the city that are enrolled under the ALS Program. The DepEd is hoping that the number will increase with the help of the barangay officials.
“We are hoping that the said 978 enrolled out –of- school youth will increase with the help of our barangay officials, “Cano said.
Formerly known as Non- Formal Education which mainly focuses on livelihood program, the ALS Program now gives importance to the education of the youth who does not have means to continue their studies in regular schools. (JENNIFER SUMAGANG-ALLEGADO)
