Bridging Social Inequality through
Accessibility and Equal Opportunity
A Case Study of Alternative Learning System
in a Local Rehabilitation Center
Edwin F. Lineses
De La Salle University-Dasmarinas
Dasmarinas City, Cavite, Philippines
eflineses@dlsud.edu.ph
The Background
• Accessibility in education is guaranteed by the
existing laws of the Philippines
• However social inequality transcends… and
even in the realm of education (Lucas, 1975)
• Without a comprehensive intervention the
systemic inequality will be reinforced by time.
Equality and equal opportunity issues shall
prevail
The Background
• This case study focuses on the issues of equality
and accessibility in education in the context of a
local rehabilitation center.
• Triangulation is employed to gather the data using
anthropological techniques (Spradley, 1980;
MacMillan, 2008; Wolcott, 1988)
The Setting
The Challenges
• Discontinuity between the Alternative Learning
System (ALS) program objectives and the
inmates’ motives for participation
• Disruption in the program happened to some
inmates who were released prior to the
culmination of the program
The Challenges
• Diverse resources constraints posed concerns on
the sustainability issues of the program
• The constraints included space,
• accessibility of materials, and
• decreasing number of teacher volunteers.
Policy Recommendations
• Structural adjustments in the physical facilities
of the rehabilitation center;
• Close supervision and monitoring of the
program;
• Adequate orientation for participants; and
• Involvement of other government or nongovernment agencies for further support of the
program.
What Lies Ahead
• The program of ALS is just an initial attempt to
provide equal opportunity in education
• There is still much to be done before equality in
education can be achieved in the context of the
marginalized sectors of the society.
Conclusion
• Accessibility in education in jails is an attempt
to recognize equal opportunities in schooling
that “seek to enhance social mobility within
structures which are essentially unequal” (Cole
& Hill, 1999)
• “The objective should be equality not [just]
equal opportunities” (Lucas, 1975). Education in
jail is an equal opportunity in education… and
just the beginning of equality
Bridging Social Inequality through
Accessibility and Equal Opportunity
A Case Study of Alternative Learning System
in a Local Rehabilitation Center
Edwin F. Lineses
De La Salle University-Dasmarinas
Dasmarinas City, Cavite, Philippines
eflineses@dlsud.edu.ph