For many Filipinos forced to leave school due to poverty, illness, or life’s challenges, a second chance at education can seem out of reach.
For thousands across the country, however, the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Learning System (ALS) has become a lifeline—helping learners rebuild interrupted dreams and create new paths forward.
Among its beneficiaries is Aldwin Balintec, a former ALS learner who is now a licensed professional teacher and mobile educator. His journey reflects the program’s mission of reaching learners outside the traditional classroom and guiding them back into education.
At 13, Balintec stopped schooling after a debilitating illness left him unable to walk. Years later, an ALS mobile teacher helped him resume his studies. He went on to pass the Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) test, earn a degree in elementary education from Isabela State University as a government scholar, and pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers.
After several years in the classroom, Balintec returned to ALS in 2016—this time as a mobile teacher helping others overcome similar challenges.
“Without hesitation, I accepted the offer, believing it was my calling—helping others who have yet to achieve their dreams,” he said.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the government continues to strengthen ALS to make education more inclusive, particularly for those unable to complete formal schooling.
“Sa ilalim ng administrasyon, layunin nating gawing mas inklusibo ang edukasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalakas ng ALS,” Angara said. “Ang mga tagumpay na ito ay patunay na sa tamang suporta, kayang malampasan ng bawat Pilipino ang mga hamon sa pag-aaral.”
Similar stories have emerged nationwide. In San Fernando City, La Union, ALS graduate Rinda Limkul said she had to stop schooling at a young age to help support her family by selling food on the streets. Through ALS, she completed her education, later earning a college degree and entering public service.
“My journey is still far from over, but I’m already miles from where I began,” Limkul said.
In Ilocos Norte, 57-year-old Rebecca Simbulan showed that education has no age limit. While earning a living selling vegetables and walking long distances daily, she completed senior high school through ALS—balancing work and study to improve her family’s future.
As more success stories emerge, DepEd is encouraging out-of-school youth and adults to enroll in ALS for School Year 2026–2027.
Designed to be flexible and accessible, ALS provides an alternative pathway for learners left behind by the formal system, reinforcing the idea that it is never too late to learn and start again.