DepEd eyes alternative learning program for young drug surrenderees

The Department of Education (DepEd) is eyeing to enrol drug surrenderees who are out-of-school youth in its Alternative Learning System (ALS) as its contribution to the intensified government campaign against illegal drugs.

A report by GMA News' Mark Salazar on "Balitanghali" on Thursday quoted Education Secretary Leonor Briones as saying that of the estimated 5 to 6 million out-of-school youth, only 600,000 are enrolled in ALS.

Briones said the department will not wait for the construction of new rehabilitation centers for this, as ALS classes can be held in barangay halls and covered courts.

The DepEd is also set to create its own separate bureau, once it receives the survey information from the Philippine National Police, which will track the drug suspects among the youth to bring them back to basic education.

For this, among other else, the DepEd has proposed a P571 billion budget for 2017, the biggest among government agencies.

Briones was quoted as saying that even if she only heard three sentences about the education sector in the State of the Nation Address of President Rordrigo Duterte, these words already highlighted the president's full support for DepEd.

Briones added the agency is also studying to require teacher applicants to undergo mandatory drug tests in the future.

Briones said increasing the salary of public school teachers is also in the pipeline to compete with private school teachers. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News