Marcos signs law on free tutorials  

Students who are falling behind in their studies or failing tests will now have a chance to catch up with their peers through free tutorials to improve their reading, mathematics and science skills.

President Marcos on Friday signed a law aimed at reversing the dismal proficiency levels of Filipino students in international assessments that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republic Act No. 12028, or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Act (Aral), seeks to ensure that learners who are struggling in reading, mathematics and science will be able to reach the required competency for their grade level.

It is among the priority measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council chaired by the President.

Tutorial sessions will be done in person, via online classes or blended learning setups for students who need more help in their lessons.

In his speech after signing the law, the President noted the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment findings that 75 percent of Filipino learners did not meet the minimum proficiency required in reading, mathematics and science.

He said this “disheartening trend remained alarmingly the same” especially as pandemic lockdowns abruptly caused a shift in classes from being conducted in classrooms to being in front of computer screens at home.

Quality education

He said the enactment of the Aral law is aimed at championing the right of every Filipino child to quality education that is within reach. The Aral program will include Kindergarten to Grade 10 students who fall under the following situations: Those who recently returned to school after a furlough; are below the minimum proficiency required in reading, mathematics and science; and are failing in examinations and tests.

Tutorial sessions for those in Grades 1 to 10 will focus on reading and mathematics, while lessons for those in Grades 3 to 10 will also focus on science.

The Aral program will prioritize pupils in kindergarten to Grade 6, with a focus on reading and mathematics “to develop learners’ critical and analytical thinking skills.”

Kindergarten learners who are falling behind will be given tutorial lessons that will build their foundational skills in literacy and numeracy.

Private schools may also receive support for the intervention program for their learners who are struggling with their studies.

For public schools, the Department of Education will use its Learning Information System to determine those who will need the extra help and to measure their progress by using classroom-based assessments, like exams and tests.