A total of 45 personnel of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10ID) completed their elementary and junior high school education through the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System (DepEd-ALS) program.

In an interview Friday, Capt. Mark Anthony Tito, the 10ID spokesperson, said the graduates were Indigenous People (IP) soldiers and former rebels who were recruited on special enlistment.

They graduated during a ceremony held at the 10ID Auditorium in Camp General Manuel T. Yan Senior in Mawab, Davao de Oro on Feb. 8.

Tito said the group took the functional literacy test and participated in a series of modular sessions as part of the ALS program.

Dr. Arlyn B. Lim, the assistant schools’ division superintendent, said elementary graduates may choose to proceed to junior high school, while those in junior high school could move on to senior high and enroll in vocational courses.

“We will continue to partner with the 10ID to make a difference in these people’s lives. I know this aligns with our goal of eradicating illiteracy in our government,” Lim said.

Col. Felix Ronnie Babac, the 10ID chief of staff, praised the graduates for considering education as the key to success, particularly in their military careers.

He said the IP soldiers serve as an inspiration to colleagues who aspire to achieve excellence in their service. (PNA)