Asia Pacific College offers big tuition discount for ALS passers
The Asia Pacific College (APC) of SM Foundation and IBM Philippines is opening the door for more Alternative Learning System (ALS) high school passers of the Department of Education to become its ADM (APC-Don Bosco-Manila Times College) senior high school scholars to be trained for the burgeoning Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.
The scholarship offers tuition fee discount to deserving ALS passers.
Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the first batch of 11 ALS passers is now enrolled at APC for a special curriculum in Grade 11 and 12 of senior high school that will lead to a high-paying job in the BPO sector.
The scholars are taking up Services Management Program which includes specialization tracks in business communications, service culture, principles of systems thinking, fundamentals of business processes outsourcing and an internship program in BPO companies where they will be paid a minimum wage. APC sought ALS passers from the list provided by DepEd to go through the pilot program for Grade 11 and Grade 12 under the K to 12 basic education reform program.
“We are grateful to APC for offering to model senior high school (ADM Higher School) in partnership with the Business Processing Association of the Philippines. This will give our ALS passers a chance to be trained in BPO Service Management while on scholarship" said Luistro.
BPAP has earlier signed an agreement with the consortium of APC, Don Bosco Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centers, and The Manila Times College to pilot the senior high school program under K to 12 in a two-year certificate course called Higher School Program with a specialization in BPO Service Management. It is a ladderized course that will give students the chance to be hired in the BPO industry in two years or have the option to proceed to a degree course in IT at APC, Nursing at the Manila Times College, or Engineering at Don Bosco.
Bureau of Alternative Learning Systems Director Carol Guerrero said the scholars see the APC offer as a ticket out of poverty. According to Guerrero, “the first batch of scholars were chosen because they made good in the Accreditation and Equivalency Test and they have the aspiration to land jobs beyond what is now available to them such as messengers, photocopiers, baggers and barkers.”
Tata P. Medado, APC Corporate Communications Director, said that they chose the ALS passers because they want to explore alternative sources of potential BPO talents beyond those from traditional sources. “The BPO business is here for the long haul and we want to produce trained BPO talents with entry level skills,” according to Medado.
