House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday welcomed President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr.'s signing of the ARAL (Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning) bill into law.
"This landmark piece of legislation is designed to ensure that students in both the public and private education system who are lagging in their learning process will not be left behind," the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives said.
"The law is consistent with the economic development mantra of the Marcos administration that calls for giving every Filipino the opportunity to improve so that he catches up with the rest of our population in making life better for themselves," the Speaker said.
Romualdez said the ARAL program would provide a free and effective national intervention mechanism for students struggling in their lessons, especially in reading, mathematics and science, to attain competencies set by the Department of Education (DepEd).
"It seeks to address issues of learning difficulties for basic education learners and provide solutions based on assessments by DepEd personnel," he added.
The ARAL bill is entitled "An Act establishing an Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program and appropriating funds therefor."
The program is intended for those who have returned or are returning to school after a layoff, those below the minimum proficiency levels required in reading, mathematics, and science, and those who fail in examinations as evaluated by teachers during the school year.
Students who meet the minimum proficiency levels may be allowed to enroll in ARAL supplemental classes during the summer break.
Under the law, similarly situated learners enrolled in private schools shall be provided with the same interventions. The DepEd shall determine which of these schools qualify for the intervention program.
Teachers, para-teachers, and pre-service teachers may be enlisted as ARAL program tutors, provided that teachers are not tutors of their learners.
Teachers who serve as tutors shall be compensated according to existing rules of DepEd and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), provided that they have already rendered six hours of actual classroom teaching.
Para-teachers are paid from the DepEd budget or the special education fund of the local government units where the learners' schools are located.
Pre-service teachers' tutoring services shall be considered relevant teaching experience when they apply for plantilla positions in DepEd.
Tutorials may be conducted through face-to-face or online sessions or a combination thereof.
The Department of Higher Education must coordinate with the Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of the Interior, Local Government, and other stakeholders in implementing the ARAL program.
Any contribution, donation, or grant in cash or kind made by any Filipino, foreigner, or foreign or local organization shall be exempt from the donor's tax and considered an allowable tax deduction.
Expenses for implementing the program shall be charged against the DepEd budget.
Local government units may provide funding support from their special education fund.
In consultation with relevant agencies, the DepEd shall issue implementing rules and regulations.
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