The Senate has ratified the reconciled version of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act, bringing it one step closer to becoming law. 

The bill, which now awaits President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s signature, would establish a nationwide learning intervention program aimed at helping students recover from learning losses caused by the pandemic.

The ARAL Program seeks to support students from Kindergarten to Grade 10 who are struggling in subjects like reading, mathematics, and science. It aims to bridge the gap between current learning levels and expected competencies. 

Speaking at the plenary session, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who sponsored the bill, said: “We have come up with a piece of legislation that seeks to establish a free and effective national learning intervention program to ensure that all learners who are struggling in their lessons… will be able to attain the competencies in their respective grade levels.”

The program will focus on essential learning competencies in language and mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and science for Grades 3 to 10. 

It will include systematic tutorial sessions led by trained teachers and para-teachers, who will use effective teaching methods to support students’ learning needs. 

Gatchalian emphasized that the program is crucial for mitigating potential economic losses, saying, “Based on the projections of the National Economic and Development Authority, this legislation is crucial to mitigating potential economic losses exceeding 10 trillion pesos over the next four decades.”

The ARAL Program aims to address the education crisis in the Philippines, highlighted by poor performance in international assessments like the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), where the country ranked among the lowest in reading, mathematics, and science.

The bill covers public school learners who have returned to school after a break, those below minimum proficiency levels, and those struggling in exams.

Gatchalian noted, “Kung tuluyang maisabatas ang ating panukala, mapipigilan natin ang pag-urong ng kaalaman at matitiyak nating walang batang maiiwan sa kanyang pag-aaral.”

[“If this proposal becomes law, we can prevent knowledge loss and ensure that no child is left behind in their education.”]

With the Senate’s approval, the ARAL Program is poised to make a significant impact on the education system, offering much-needed support to students across the country.