Amidst the learning crisis behind the dismal performance of Filipino learners in global proficiency levels in reading, math and science, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has 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.

According to President Marcos Jr., he believes the new law would address issues revealed by the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), wherein 75 percent of Filipino students performed below minimum proficiency levels as compared to others.

“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,” the chief executive noted.

“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 ‘Sonny’ Angara thanked the President for the passage of the law, saying it was a critical intervention at a time when education needs the most support from government.

“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 pointed out.

At the Senate, Senate President Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero and senator Sherwin Gatchalian hailed the signing of ARAL Law, stressing that the ARAL Program will be of great help to address the 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 cited.

On the other hand, Gatchalian, who co-authored the bill with Angara and sponsored it in the Senate, enthused that the new education program would prepare students for higher education or their entry to the country’s workforce.