Beyond the Classroom: Life of Alternative Learning System Completers After Graduation

The Alternative Learning System (ALS) offers non-traditional learners a unique path to academic and personal growth, overcoming educational barriers and realizing potential. However, the journey of post-graduation presents more challenges than it is anticipated. This study explored the experiences of ten ALS graduates in Magsaysay South, Division of Davao del Sur post-graduation, focusing on their challenges, coping mechanisms, and insights, thus highlighting ALS education implications. ALS graduates faced hurdles like transition to higher education, job mismatches, and social integration difficulties. They employed coping strategies such as balancing life, seeking social support, and enhancing job market alignment skills. Graduates acknowledged ALS’s role in their foundational education, stressing the need for policy improvements for better alignment with formal education, thereby enhancing employability and academic readiness. Core values, such as resilience and adaptability learned through ALS, were crucial for navigating post-graduation life. The study underscores implications for policymakers, educators, and institutions. It calls for policy enhancements to bridge ALS and formal education gaps and urges educational institutions to develop tailored support systems for ALS graduates. This could be in turn of mentorship, tutoring, and inclusive teaching methods, thus facilitating smoother transitions and better integration into higher education, the workforce, and the broader society.