Press Release - Gatchalian hails signing of 'ARAL Program' law; seeks decisive action vs education crisis

Senator Win Gatchalian lauded the signing of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act (Republic Act No. 12028), which he says will boost efforts to address learning loss and the education crisis hounding the country.

The new law, which Gatchalian authored and sponsored, establishes the ARAL Program to provide national learning interventions grounded on the following premises: well-systematized tutorial sessions; well-designed intervention plans and learning resources developed in consultation with curriculum experts and reading specialists, following a learner-centered approach; and effective and accessible delivery modes for tutors and learners; among others.

The law applies to learners from Kindergarten to Grade 10 from public schools who have returned or are returning to school after a furlough; those who are below the minimum proficiency levels required in reading, mathematics, and science; and those who are failing in examinations and tests during the course of the school year.

The ARAL Program shall cover the essential learning competencies under the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum and focus on reading and mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and science for Grades 3 to 10. The prioritization of reading and mathematics shall seek to develop learners' critical and analytical thinking skills. The ARAL program shall also focus on building Kindergarten learners' foundational skills to strengthen their literacy and numeracy competencies.

Teachers, para-teachers, and pre-service teachers may serve as tutors under the ARAL Program. Teachers who serve as tutors shall be compensated subject to the pertinent provisions of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers and the existing rules and regulations of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Consistent with DBM guidelines, said compensation for teachers shall be granted provided that they have already rendered the prescribed six hours of actual classroom teaching, and the amount paid for the purpose shall not exceed the compensation for two hours based on the Prime Hourly Teaching Rate.

Para-teachers who serve as tutors shall be compensated from