ACED gives out-of-school-youth a better future
A continuing education project of the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED) Quezon City Dep Ed and then Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte has produced another batch of new graduates—giving out-of-school youth a much needed boost.
In a momentous Completion Ceremony held June 21, 92 students of the Quezon City Community College received their Certificates of Completion from Mayor-elect Joy Belmonte, QC Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Natividad Bayubay, and ACED Director Carmela Oracion. The TESDA National Certificates (NC II) obtained by the completers were also announced during the ceremony. Of the 92 students, 17 completed the Automotive Course; 61 completed the Bread and Pastry, Cookery, and Food and Beverage Service Courses; 14 completed the Welding Course.
The Quezon City Community College (QCCC) Program is a 10-month program which, in line with the Alternative Learning System of Dep Ed, “aims to empower out-of-school youth and adult learners to continue learning – in any manner, at any time and any place they want – to achieve their goals of improving their quality of life and becoming more effective contributors to society”. It is an adaptation of the Community College model of India started by Fr. Xavier Alphonse, SJ, founding Director of the Indian Centre for Research and Development of Community Education (ICRDCE).
When the program started in 2016, QC Dep Ed reported that the city approximately had 100,000 out-of-school youth, accounting for 17% of the city’s 595,403 school age youth. The program covers both Technical Skills and Life Skills.
For its first run in 2016, 51 students completed the program in Bread and Pastry, Cookery, and Food and Beverage Service Courses; all have now gained employment.
Mylene Villacarillo, who received recognition for her exemplary performance in the QCCC program, spoke on behalf of her batch mate.
“Sa wakas, magtatapos na ako. Nakamit ko na ang isa sa mga pangarap ko, ang makapag-tapos. Hindi man ito kasing-taas ng iba pang propesyo, ipinagmamalaki ko pa rin na isa ako sa mga magtatapos ngayong araw na ito. Sa ilang buwan na ginugol ko dito ay may maghihintay na magandang kinabukasan para sa akin at sa pamilya ko. Maraming mga bagay akong natutuhan hindi lamang sa kursong kinuha ko, gayundin sa iba pang mga aspeto katulad ng Life Skills na kung saan itinuro sa amin kung paano naming dapat ilagay sa tamang daana ng aming mga buhay.”
In her closing message, Mayor-elect Joy Belmonte noted that the program is for anyone who would like to pursue quality education: “Ang Quezon City Community College ay walang pinipiling edad, estado sa buhay, o nakaraan. Kung nais ninyong matuto, ang community college ay para sa inyo. Walang diskriminasyon, walang panlalait.”
That afternoon, a job fair was held at the Quezon City Hall. The completers of the Quezon City Community College went to submit their application forms: 5 graduates were hired on the spot.
