President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the importance of education as the greatest legacy to be passed on to the young Filipinos.
The President made the pitch as he led the ceremonial signing of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Bill in Malacañang on Friday.
The signing of the legislation prioritizes the implementation of learning interventions to address the current challenges confronting the education sector.
“Bilang ama, edukasyon ang pinakamahalagang pamana na maaari naming iwanan sa inyo. Walang materyal na bagay na makakatumbas sa halaga ng edukasyon. Ito ang huhubog sa inyong kakayahang harapin ang anumang hamon ng buhay at makapaglingkod nang tapat sa ating bansa,” the President said.
During the signing event, the President called for collective effort to make education the cornerstone of the nation’s progress.
“Through our integrated efforts, we can create a future where no learner is left behind, and every Filipino child can flourish in an increasingly complex world,” he said.
According to the President, the ARAL Program will address broader challenges such as mastering essential competencies and recovering from learning loss through structured tutorial sessions while reigniting each student’s passion for learning.
The Chief Executive cited the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which showed that 75 percent of Filipino learners fell below the minimum proficiency levels in reading, mathematics, and science.
With the PISA assessment, the President stressed the need for immediate intervention.
Aligned with the existing Department of Education (DepEd) policies, the ARAL Program will nurture learners holistically by strengthening their academic foundations and enhancing their resilience in the face of adversity.
“By honing their essential learning competencies, we can equip our students with the foundational skills required to become visionaries, critical thinkers, problem solvers—qualities essential to the progress of our nation in this modern world,” the President pointed out.
Key features of the ARAL Program include free and effective national learning interventions to support struggling learners, especially in reading, mathematics, and science; the employment of teachers, para-teachers, and pre-service teachers as tutors; and the provision of face-to-face tutorials, interactive online tutorials, or blended learning.
The law also mandates public telecommunications entities to provide free access to DepEd’s exclusively hosted learning management system applications. Additionally, broadcasting networks are required to air supplemental tutorial video materials covering the essential learning competencies in reading, mathematics, and science in the K to 12 basic education curriculum.
It also encourages LGU support and parental involvement to increase enrollment in the ARAL Program and exempts any donation, contribution, or grant to the ARAL Program, whether in cash or in kind, from the donor’s tax and can be deducted from the donor’s gross income. | PND
