(UPDATES) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday signed into law Republic Act 12028, or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program that aims to accelerate the learning recovery of students post-pandemic.
The President said the new law would address issues revealed by the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment, wherein 75 percent of Filipino learners performed below minimum proficiency levels in reading, mathematics and science.
“This disheartening trend remained alarmingly the same, highlighting the urgency of the learning crisis that we confront today. It is imperative, therefore, that we acknowledge this massive challenge, determine the necessary steps, and prioritize the implementation of learning interventions,” Marcos said during the signing ceremony in Malacañang.
“Indeed, the Aral Program seeks to confront the broader challenges of mastering essential competencies and recovering from the learning loss through structured tutorial sessions,” he added.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo, who attended the signing rite, thanked the President for the passage of the law, saying it was a critical intervention at a time when education needs the most support.
“This law demonstrates our collective resolve to uplift the state of education in the Philippines. With ARAL, we can help students regain their momentum and achieve the learning milestones they deserve,” Angara said.
Senate President Francis Escudero and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian hailed the signing of ARAL Law.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. accommodates selfies with teachers after signing the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Act or ARAL Law at Malacañan Palace on Oct. 18, 2024. PHOTOS BY NOEL B. PABALATE/PPA POOL
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. accommodates selfies with teachers after signing the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Act or ARAL Law at Malacañan Palace on Oct. 18, 2024. PHOTOS BY NOEL B. PABALATE/PPA POOL
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. accommodates selfies with teachers after signing the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Act or ARAL Law at Malacañan Palace on Oct. 18, 2024. PHOTOS BY NOEL B. PABALATE/PPA POOL
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. accommodates selfies with teachers after signing the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Act or ARAL Law at Malacañan Palace on Oct. 18, 2024. PHOTOS BY NOEL B. PABALATE/PPA POOL
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. accommodates selfies with teachers after signing the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Act or ARAL Law at Malacañan Palace on Oct. 18, 2024. PHOTOS BY NOEL B. PABALATE/PPA POOL
“This ARAL Program will be of great help to address our long-standing problem of students who cannot read properly and have difficulty in math and science. Proficiency in these essential learning competencies will serve as the foundation for individuals to become productive members of society,” Escudero said in a statement.
Gatchalian, who co-authored the bill with Angara and sponsored it in the Senate, said the ARAL Program would prepare students for higher education or the workforce.
“The ARAL Law will boost efforts to address learning loss and the education crisis hounding the country,” he said.
The ARAL Law, a priority measure identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, mandates the creation of a free national learning intervention program to help struggling learners meet required educational standards.
The program would be implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) and shall focus on improving competencies in essential learning areas, including reading and mathematics for Grades 1 to 10 and science for Grades 3 to 10.
Learners have the option to choose between face-to-face tutorial, online tutorial or blended learning, depending on their needs and circumstances.
Under the law, teachers who will serve as tutors shall be compensated based on the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers and existing rules of the Department of Budget and Management.
Para-teachers who will serve as tutors shall be compensated using the Special Education Fund of the Local School Board of a local government unit.
Public telecommunications entities were mandated to provide free access to all DepEd-hosted learning management systems applications.
Be the first to comment