Persons deprived of liberty graduate from senior high school
The La Salle Green Hills initiative, Liwanag Program, aimed to provide basic education and technical-vocational courses
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The La Salle Green Hills initiative, Liwanag Program, aimed to provide basic education and technical-vocational courses
Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) have embraced a La Sallian education while in jail, and recently, 17 of them graduated with a senior high school (SHS) diploma.
Fourteen remain in detention. Two have obtained their freedom and attended the face-to-face rites. One obtained her certificate at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW).
Way back in 2018, the La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) embarked on Values Formation classes with the Mandaluyong Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Personnel and the PDLs. The initiative, Liwanag Program, aimed to provide basic education and technical-vocational courses.
This partnership blossomed in 2019, with full-fledged recollections which gathered over 700 inmates per session. At the onset of the pandemic, when mobility was restricted, the PDLs requested and expressed interest to further their education. And thus, the Alternative Education Unit of LSGH began to provide fully online classes for these adult learners.
Brother Vincent Fernandez, FSC, fondly known as Br. Vince, presented the institution with the following introduction: "You don't pay for tuition. Why? First, tinataya namin ang buhay at pangalan namin sa inyo. Ano ang itataya niyo samin? (We put our lives and name at stake for you. What will you give in return?)"
"Sisingilin ko kayo. Ano'ng ibabalik niyo sa amin? Ang buhay niyo na maayos (We will ask for payment in what form? You having a better life). For something good for yourselves, your family, and country. 'Yun ang bayad niyo (This is your payment)," he motivated the new enrollees.
Under this reciprocal setup, LSGH provides basic, elementary, and junior high education over the course of a ten-month program for PDLs who aim for self-improvement.
"When they complete and pass their revalida, they will receive a diploma from the Department of Education. They will also obtain a certificate from La Salle Green Hills, which makes them Lasallians as well. They're family," Br. Vincent declared.
Moving up
Upon completion, they may move on to the senior high school curriculum under the Adult Night High School, which offers the online-feasible Accountancy, Business and Management strand. This academic year, there were 37 PDLs under this arrangement. Part of their training not only involved core subjects, but also career and life skills, and even understanding self and society.
"We asked and helped them obtain their own PSA birth certificates. Now they understand the value of all these documents," shared SHS adviser Catherine Laguitan.
"Furthermore, we even taught them how to fill out government forms such as BIR and SSS on their own," Br. Vince added.
Expanding onwards
While there are success stories, there were also some heartbreaks. "Unfortunately, we lose some of our learners when they are transferred or released. They cannot do anything under the new circumstances. But we assured them we'll send whatever credentials they have," Br. Vince confided.
However, there is a silver lining. Whenever these PDLs are transferred to a new facility, they expressed to LSGH their intention to continue learning. And thus, the institution finds a way to link up with the center to make this possible.
"We have actually partnered up with the CIW due to our lady learner. The result? There were even more who wished to enroll," shared Laguitan.
"The transferees bring us to other possible avenues to reach out. They take the initiative. We are led," added Br. Vince.
At the end of the academic year, their journeys filled with experiences are all compiled in a yearbook.
Humbling experiences
"Mind you, they are not perfect ladies and gentlemen. Oh boy, we have all these wonderful stories. But there were also nightmares working with them. But it's in these nightmares that we are humbled by it," expressed the Christian Brother. "They are the ones who teach us how far we can go. And the rest is God's work."
"They are no saints. Even now, we can attest. But we can see so much goodness. We just don't want to waste it, because it is overwhelmed by the darkness that surrounds them," Br. Vince professed.
"For the PDLs that get released, it is so heartbreaking to see some of them go back to their old ways. We visit their homes just to find out, to understand how best we can help. To widen our limited perspectives, to discover the contexts so that the way we teach can be relevant to them," he continued.
"My vocation as a brother I owe to them. It is where I find the genuine and grounding meaning of why I joined the Brothers," he confessed.
Looking forward
In 2020, this LSGH initiative expanded to the San Juan City Jail and Valenzuela City Jail. This year, they will also serve the Makati City Jail and Correctional Institute for Women. For the most recent academic year, there were over 300 PDLs enrolled with LSGH.
"We are also hoping other institutions could engage similarly. I am certain they could be most helpful as well." encouraged Br. Vince.
"One day, we hope there are no more jails. Only development centers and schools. No more punishments." the La Sallian Brother ended.
The LSGH Alternative Education Unit conducts diverse programs for community learners, such as out-of-school youth and adults, workers and domestic helpers, as well as students with special needs and persons deprived of liberty. For more information about their advocacy, visit the official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ALS.LSGH/).
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