ACADEMIC RECOVERY PROGRAM

MARY ANN M. SANGALANG

The House of Representatives voted 240-0-0 to approve HB 8210, or the proposed Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act, which aims to address the gap between the current and the expected learning competencies among learners.

According to the bill’s authors, this program shall strive to ensure that the learners attain the most essential learning competencies covering the subjects of reading, mathematics, and sciences through the tutors who shall conduct the lessons in the program.

The proposed program shall cover the most essential learning competencies (MELCs) under Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and Science for Grades 3 to 10.

The proposed ARAL program shall cover public school learners who failed in the examinations and tests assessed and evaluated by the teachers; received grades that are marginally above the minimum level of mastery required in the attainment of the MELCs; and returned or are returning after a furlough.

The program would hire tutors from any of the following: 1) students of teacher education institutions, 2) government internship program of the DOLE, 3) students in higher and technical-vocational educational institutions taking up the National Training Services under the National Service Training Program, 4) volunteers from non-government organizations or civil society organizations, and 5) individual volunteers.

Meanwhile, teachers and para-teachers participating as tutors under the program shall be compensated for their services.

Tutorial sessions can be held after school hours, on weekends, during the school year except on the day of worship following the beliefs or religion of the learner, or during semestral breaks.

The tutorial sessions shall be delivered either through face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and blended learning.

Tutors will be provided with the appropriate training and seminars, focusing on innovative instructional techniques, interpersonal skills, social-emotional learning, and cultural competency before they participate in the ARAL program.

-oOoThe author is Teacher II at Rizal Con. Elementary School