Home⇛Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives⇛vol. 3 no. 7 (2025)

Rebel Returnees’ Journey to Alternative Learning System Education

Lyford E. Saplagio | Zandro P. Ibañez

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

This study used a phenomenological design to explore the stories of rebel returnees’ journey to Alternative Learning System (ALS) education. This study was limited to eight (8) rebel returnees from the selected schools in Matanao, Kiblawan, and Bansalan, Davao del Sur, particularly from Alternative Learning System (ALS) graduates or enrollees. Four (4) male and four (4) female participants below and above 18 years old fit our inclusion criteria: the rebel returnees. The findings revealed that the lived experiences were as follows: educational opportunities and regular life challenges, reintegration efforts, time management, and strengthening academic difficulties. Overall, the general theme revolves around the positive encounters and the challenges experienced by rebel returnees in going back to school. The study of rebel returnees’ lived experiences highlights important implications for theory, practices, and education: training and Professional Development, Pedagogical Approaches, Research and Policy, and Rehabilitation and Support. To better understand the long-term effects of returning former rebels to school, officials from the Department of Education may undertake longitudinal research. The Alternative Learning System (ALS) program provides students with the education they need to understand the ever-changing nature of work and how it affects pedagogical approaches and career advancement.



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