President Marcos has signed into law Republic Act (RA) 12028 or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Act which aims to accelerate learning recovery and address the gaps worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In his speech during the ceremonial signing in Malacañan on Friday morning, Oct. 18, the President said the new law is an important step in embracing and addressing what he described as a "pressing" and "profound" challenge that the education sector faces.

He specifically cited the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment which revealed that a staggering 75 percent of Filipino learners fell below the 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," Marcos said.

"It is imperative, therefore, that we acknowledge this massive challenge, determine the necessary steps, and prioritize the implementation of learning interventions," he added.

The ARAL Program is a free national learning intervention program that seeks to help struggling learners catch up with the required standards for their grade levels.

It is available for those who are reentering school after a hiatus; those grappling with proficiency in reading, mathematics, and science; and those who encountered challenges in passing examinations.

"Indeed, the ARAL Program seeks to confront the broader challenges of mastering essential competencies and recovering from the learning loss through structured tutorial sessions," President Marcos said.

With this, he urged learners to take advantage of the program to help them achieve their dreams.

"Bilang ama, edukasyon ang pinakamahalagang pamana na maaari naming iwanan sa inyo (As a father, education is the most important heritage we can leave you)," he said.

"Walang materyal na bagay na makakatumbas sa halaga ng edukasyon (No material thing can compare to the value of education)," he added.

President Marcos likewise thanked the tutors who will be part of the ARAL Program.

"Your role is crucial in imparting the values and knowledge essential for the next generation to succeed," he said.

"I urge you to approach our learners with understanding. Teach them without guidance and guide them with compassion," he added.

The ARAL Law is a priority measure identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), the consultative and advisory body chaired by President Marcos on programs and policies essential to achieving the socioeconomic goals for the country.

To be spearheaded by the Department of Education (DepEd), the program will tap teachers, para-teachers, and pre-service teachers or those students enrolled in a teacher degree program offered by Teacher Education Institutions.

The program will focus on improving students’ competencies in essential learning areas, including reading and mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and science for Grades 3 to 10. Meanwhile, for the Kindergarten learners, the ARAL Program will focus on building foundational skills to strengthen their literacy and numeracy competencies.

To ensure the effectiveness and accessibility of learning, tutorial sessions will be conducted in three flexible delivery modes. Learners can choose from face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, or a blended learning approach, with this, all learners can participate based on their needs and circumstances.

Teachers who serve as tutors shall be under the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers and existing rules of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Para-teachers who serve as tutors shall be compensated from the DepEd budget or the Special Education Fund of the Local School Board of the local government unit (LGU), where the learners' schools are located.

Services rendered by pre-service teachers who serve as tutors will be considered relevant teaching experience when applying for a plantilla position in DepEd, subject to the relevant rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Merit Selection Plan and hiring guidelines of DepEd.

Meanwhile, donations for the ARAL Program shall be exempt from the donor's tax and considered allowable deductions from the donor's gross income.

"This initiative is designed to encourage support and partnerships from individuals and organizations dedicated to uplifting the quality of education in the Philippines," President Marcos said.

Tutorial lessons

Tutorial sessions shall be conducted via face-to-face sessions, online tutorials, and blended learning to ensure learning accessibility.

Public Telecommunications entities shall provide free access to all DepEd-exclusively hosted learning management systems applications.

DepEd shall determine the learners and tutors in financial need and ensure they are provided subsidized data plans for using these applications.

A portion of the mandated allotment in each broadcasting network's daily total air time shall be utilized for supplemental tutorial video materials within the regular programming of all networks granted franchises as part of their duty to serve the public.

The materials shall cover the essential learning competencies under the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum, covering reading, mathematics, and science.