ARAL program implementation likely in early 2025 – House leader

MANILA – The Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program, a newly enacted law targeting learning gaps, is projected to be implemented early next year, the chair of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture said on Monday.

In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview over People's Television, Pasig City Lone District Rep. Roman Romulo said the Department of Education (DepEd) needs time to prepare, especially in providing early interventions to address students' struggles.

"Realistically, this will probably take the Department of Education, siguro (probably) early next year," Romulo said.

Romulo said the ARAL program aims to ensure students are "grade-level ready" through free tutoring and mentorship.

The program will focus on improving students' competencies in essential learning areas, including reading and mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and science for Grades 3 to 10, in order to attain competencies set by the DepEd.

"Iyong academic calendar, doon pa lang makikita na po ang ating mga guro base sa mga exam, sa mga test na binibigay nila kung mayroon mga estudyante na medyo nahihirapan (During the academic calendar, teachers can assess through exams or tests if there are students who are struggling)," Romulo said.

"Mag-a-assign ng tutor, parang mentor, iyong ating paaralan para siguraduhin na agad-agad makahabol po iyong estudyante na struggling in certain competency (The schools will assign a tutor or a mentor to ensure that the student struggling in a certain competency can catch up immediately)," he added.

Learners' options are face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials or blended learning, depending on their needs and circumstances.

The initiative eliminates the need to wait for summer camps or private tutors, integrating tutoring services within public schools, according to Romulo.

He emphasized the urgency of the program following the country's poor results in international and national assessments, citing the results in 2018 and 2022 that showed significant learning challenges.

Romulo said DepEd must form a tutor pool, including current teachers, para-teachers (education graduates yet to pass the licensure exam) and pre-service teachers.

Volunteers will receive additional compensation under the new law, he noted.

DepEd will monitor students' progress through periodic assessments to measure the program's effectiveness.

He stressed that careful preparation is essential to avoid discouraging students, parents and teachers.

"May birth pains talaga ang kahit na anong education reform (There will always be birth pains with any education reform)," Romulo said.

"Kung hindi nila pinaghahandaan nang mabuti ay sayang, 'di ba sayang iyong programa. And kung may disappointment iyan, kahit gaano kaganda iyong intention, kahit gaano kaganda iyong batas ay mawawalan ng gana rin po iyong ating mga teachers, iyong ating learners at mga magulang (If they don't prepare well, it will be a waste of a program, right? and if there is disappointment, no matter how good the intention or the law is, our teachers, our learners, and the parents will lose their enthusiasm)." (PNA)