ABSTRACT
The significant role played by alternative education gained its increasing popularity in countries in America, Europe and Asia. Alternative Learning System in the Philippines, under the umbrella of alternative education, provides practical option for learning to those who cannot access formal education in schools. One of its goals is to deliver quality education and to produce communicatively competent learners. In connection, this descriptive research identified factors affecting ALS implementers of Batangas City in teaching communication skills because teachers and teaching practices significantly affected learners’ performance and achievements. Researcher – made questionnaires were used to gather data about implementer’s profile indicators and indicators for mastery, strategies and assessment tools used when teaching over 25 implementers and 10 school heads. Challenges and issues met when teaching communication skills were gathered using interview. Documentary analysis of 212 Functional Literacy Test results was also employed to determine learner’s performance level as well as least mastered competencies. Quantitative data gathered were analyzed. Results showed that majority of implementers did not specialize in teaching English; learners perform well in reading but required effective learning interventions in writing and in listening and speaking skills; writing composition with correctly sequenced paragraphs using appropriate structure and grammar was the least mastered competency; the biggest encountered challenges were teaching English communication skills, learning materials, learning environment and facilities as well as learner’s beliefs and backgrounds. Teachers’ allowances and benefits, equal opportunities for promotion, A & E test and budget of work in English were perceived issues. Results would lead to the creation of capability building activities for ALS implementers to equip and enhance their mastery and pedagogical skills in teaching communication skills.
Keywords: Alternative Learning System, communication skills, descriptive research, Batangas, Philippines
see PDF attachment for more information