Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory (QCJMD) can now continue their basic education through the first senior high school program to be offered by the Schools Division Office.
The Quezon City government last week signed a memorandum of understanding with the QCJMD, SDO and the Fernando C. Amorsolo Senior High School. The signing was attended by QC Assistant City Administrator for General Affairs Atty. Rene Grapilon, QCJMD Warden JSupt Michelle Ng Bonto, Asst. Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Brian Ilan, and Fernando C Amorsolo Senior High School Principal Mr. Larry M. Castro.
“Karapatan ng bawat mamamayan ang magkaroon ng maayos na edukasyon. Dito sa lungsod, hindi tayo papayag na maging hadlang ang katayuan o sitwasyon sa buhay para hindi makapag-aral. Sa QC, ang edukasyon ay pantay, inklusibo, at bukas para sa lahat,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
Under the MOU, the school with the assistance of the QC Government will offer the Technical, Vocational and Livelihood (TVL) Strand specializing in Home Economics (HE) – Bread and Pastry Production, Cookery and Commercial Cooking; Information and Communications Technology (ICT) – Animation and Computer Programming and Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW).
Upon graduation, the PDLs can obtain a National Certificate Level II (NC II) once they pass the competency-based assessment of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
“Ang ating mga institusyon tulad ng QC Jail ay nagsisilbing pangalawang tahanan ng ating mga mamamayan na nagbabagong-buhay. Habang narito sila, tinutulungan natin sila ng iba-ibang kakayahan o skills na magagamit nila sa kanilang reintegration sa komunidad,” the mayor added.
For her part, Bonto expressed gratitude and appreciation for the continuing support given by the city government for their institution that boosts the capability and morale of their personnel and PDLs.
The K to 12 program is a new program over and above the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program for Elementary and Junior High School competencies. The city government is also prioritizing the inclusion of technical, vocational and livelihood training and other aftercare initiatives that aim to positively transform the lives of PDLs to become productive QCitizens upon their release.
###
