Quezon City PDLs can now enroll in senior high school program

Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory (QCJMD) may now continue their studies after the Department of Education Schools Division Office (SDO) offered its first senior high school program at the detention facility.

In a press statement on Wednesday, Mayor Joy Belmonte said the program is part of the city’s bid to help detainees cultivate skills that they may use once they are released and reintegrated into society.
 
“Karapatan ng bawat mamamayan ang magkaroon ng maayos na edukasyon. Dito sa lungsod, hindi tayo papayag na maging hadlang ang katayuan o sitwasyon sa buhay para hindi makapag-aral. Sa QC, ang edukasyon ay pantay, inklusibo, at bukas para sa lahat,” said Belmonte. 
 
(Education is everyone’s right. Here in the city, we will not allow anyone’s situation to be a hurdle to getting an education. In QC, education is equal, inclusive, and open to all.)
 
“Ang ating mga institusyon tulad ng QC Jail ay nagsisilbing pangalawang tahanan ng ating mga mamamayan na nagbabagong-buhay. Habang narito sila, tinutulungan natin sila ng iba-ibang kakayahan o skills na magagamit nila sa kanilang reintegration sa komunidad,” she added. 
 
(Institutions like the QC Jail serve as the second home for detainees who want to change their lives. While they’re here, we will help them cultivate skills that they may use once they reintegrate into the community.)
 
Last week, the Quezon City government signed a memorandum of understanding with the QCJMD, SDO and the Fernando C. Amorsolo Senior High School to offer the Technical, Vocational, and Livelihood Strand specializing in home economics—bread and pastry production, cookery and commercial cooking; information and communications technology—animation and computer programming; and shielded metal arc welding. 
 
Upon graduation, students can obtain a National Certificate Level II from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority once they pass the competency-based assessment.
 
QCJMD Warden Michelle Ng Bonto thanked the city government for their support of the PDLs. — VBL, GMA News