Integrating 21st Century Skills in the Alternative Learning System’s (ALS) English Communication Skills: Policy Recommendations for Enhanced Learning Outcomes

The Philippine Alternative Learning System (ALS) provides a crucial educational pathway for out-of-school children, youth, and adults. To determine if ALS learners are equipped for the demands of the 21st century, this policy brief examines the integration of key competencies – communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, technology literacy, innovation, information literacy, and life/career skills – within the Communication Skills-English learning strand. A curriculum audit reveals a heavy emphasis on traditional communication skills, such as sharing of thoughts, questions, ideas, and solutions including, but not limited to, verbal and non-verbal communication with moderate integration of critical thinking. However, significant gaps exist in the incorporation of collaboration, technology literacy, innovation, problem solving, information literacy, and life/career skills. To address these deficiencies, this brief recommends curriculum rebalancing, continued professional development for ALS teachers focused on 21st-century pedagogy, and enhanced institutional partnerships to provide real-world learning opportunities. These recommendations may help ALS Communication Skill-English curriculum be more relevant, ensuring learners acquire the higher order skills necessary for success in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

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