Content experts from the City College of Cagayan de Oro and ALS implementers gathered for the Co-Design Workshop of the ALS Weekend Bridging Academy, held last July 18, 2025 at the Department of Education – Cagayan de Oro Division Office.
The one-day workshop aimed to collaboratively design an inclusive and responsive learning model tailored to the unique needs of ALS senior high school students. It focused on building a weekend learning strategy that supports learners working toward their future college readiness. “This is more than just a program design—it’s about creating support mechanism opportunities for ALS learners who aim to proceed to college,” said Dr. Ray Butch Mahinay, ESDS VP and Director for the Center for Alternative Learning System.
Participants, including ALS teachers and higher education experts, engaged in collaborative sessions to map out key subject areas—English, Math, and Science. The workshop emphasized bridging essential learning competencies and crafting contextualized strategies to strengthen foundational academic skills.
“The weekend delivery model acknowledges the realities of ALS learners. Many of them work during weekdays or carry personal responsibilities, and this initiative opens up new doors,” added Dr. Jestoni Babia, President of CCCDO.
Dr. Roy Angelo Gazo, Schools Division Superintendent of DepEd Cagayan de Oro, expressed appreciation for the collaborative effort, “We thank the City College of Cagayan de Oro for this meaningful initiative. The ALS Weekend Bridging Academy reflects our shared commitment to expanding access to quality education ensuring that no one will be left behind.”
Aligned with the vision of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), the ALS Weekend Bridging Academy is envisioned as a structured pathway for learners seeking to enter formal tertiary education. With the outputs from this co-design workshop, the development of learning activity sheets of the bridging academy is set to roll out in the coming months.