INFORMATION GUIDE ON THE ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM

ACCREDITATION & EQUIVALENCY (ALS A&E) TEST 2013 AT THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES IN BANGKOK, KINGDOM OF THAILAND
The Philippine Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, is pleased to inform overseas Filipinos in Thailand and in other ASEAN countries that an official from the Department of Education of the Philippines will be administering the Third Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency (ALS A&E) test in Bangkok, Thailand on 15 - 16 November 2013.

What is the Alternative Learning System Accreditation & Equivalency (ALS A&E) Test?
The ALS A&E Test is a standardized paper and pencil test. It is designed to measure the competencies of those who have neither attended nor finished formal elementary or secondary education. Passers of this test are given a certificate which bears the seal and the signature of the Secretary of the Department of Education.

Who are qualified to take the test?

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An elementary dropout (not enrolled in the current school year), who is at least 11 years old on or before the day of the test, may take the elementary level ALS A&E Test; A high school dropout (not enrolled in the current school year), who is at least 15 years old on or before the day of the test, may take the secondary level ALS A&E Test; In-school learners who are averaged; Non-passers of previous ALS A&E Tests; Non-attendees in the formal school system who are visually-impaired and are Braille literate (contracted or uncontracted level);

Others (at least basically literate) who may be unemployed/underemployed out of school youth and adults; industry-based workers, housewives, maids, factory workers, drivers; members of cultural minorities/indigenous peoples; persons who have itinerant addresses by nature of their parent's work/professions; and homeschoolers.

What are the benefits of passing the test? Passers of the test will receive a certification of learning achievement signed by the Secretary of the Department of Education of the Philippines. An elementary level test passer is qualified to enroll as freshman in the secondary level education. A secondary level test passer is given a chance to enter mainstream in the formal education system of the country and enroll in post-secondary courses (technical/vocational, two/four/five-year course) of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) member institutions; access to Meralco Foundation Institute (MFI) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) skills training programs; and a chance to acquire eligibility for government employment positions under the Civil Service Commission (CSC)~ Who will administer the ALS A&E Test in Bangkok? The test will be administered by an official examiner from the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) of the Department of Education of the Philippines. How can one participate in the ALS A&E test?
1. Registration. Interested participants must register by submitting the following documents to the Consular Section of the Embassy:

a. Duly accomplished ALS A&E Registration Form (Downloadable on the Embassy Website page www.bangkokpe.com/projects/alsh b. Photocopy of applicant's valid Philippine passport, and c. Two (2) pieces 2x2 inch photo taken within the last six (6) months. Those based in Bangkok, Thailand, and neighboring Thai provinces may personally submit the documents to the Consular section. Those based in other ASEAN countries and distant Thai provinces may register by sending scanned copies of the registration documents to bkkpe.als@gmail.com.

Registration period is from 9 September (Monday) to 11 October 2013 (Friday) at 5:00pm Bangkok, Thailand Time). REGISTRATION IS A MUST
2. ALS A&E Application. The Embassy will inform those who are qualified to take the test on 14 18 October 2013. An application form shall be given to qualified test takers which must be submitted before 18 October 2013. There is no ALS A&E Test fee. However, when it is administered abroad, the cost of transportation and accommodation of the DepEd-BALS administrator from Manila shall be contributed equally by the participants. A breakdown of the total expenses with complete

original receipts of payment shall be made available on request to the participants for auditing and transparency purposes. 3. Examination Date. The A&E Test in Bangkok will be held at the Philippine Embassy conference room on 15 - 16 November 2013, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The venue is subject to change depending upon the number of qualified test takers. The complete address of the Embassy is:

Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand 760 Sukhumvit Road corner Soi Philippines (Soi 30/1) Bangkok 10110, Kingdom of Thailand.
4. Release of Results & Commencement Exercises. Results of the exam are usually released four (4) to six (6) months after the day of examination. Results shall be released online via the DepEd and Embassy's website. A commencement exercise will be conducted by the Embassy for the test passers.
Are there review sessions in preparation for the test? Participants are encouraged to participate in the free review sessions to be conducted by volunteer Filipino teachers recognized by DepEd BALS. There is no review fee. Those who are interested to join the review are requested to send an email message to bkkpe.als@gmail.com. Timeline of ALS A&E Program

Date 09 September 2013 11 October 2013 14 to 18 October 2013 15 to 16 November 2013 April to May 2014

Activity Release of Public Advisory on ALS A&E and Start of Registration Last Day of Registration ALS A&E Application (Distribution & Submission of Application Forms Alternative Learning System Accreditation & Equivalency Test Release of test results and Commencement Exercises

For other questions or queries, please send an email to bkkpe.als@gmail.com. Interested participants may also coordinate with: Ms. Sylvia Reyes Cultural Officer Philippine Embassy Tel. No. +662 259-0139 up to 40 Ms. Shirley Otero ALS A&E Volunteer Coordinator Tel. No. +6686 3222716

Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines 760 Sukhumvit Road corner Soi Philippines (Soi 30/1) Bangkok 10110, Kingdom of Thailand W: www.bangkokpe.com FB www.facebook.com/bkkpe