Republic of the Philippines 2 A)
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES iS RECEIVED 4
‘Quezon City = DATE August 30, 2022 09
TIME 3:33pm *

NINETEENTH CONGRESS e BY Bei i uj
First Regular Session Ks. ry

Wo inex

nouse piu no. 4240

Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo

ANACT
ESTABLISHING AN ACADEMIC RECOVERY AND ACCESSIBLE LEARNING PROGRAM,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The 1987 Constitution mandates the State to protect and promote the right of all
Citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such
education accessible to all.

‘The results of the various international assessments such as the 2018 Programme for
International Student Assessment (PISA)' and the 2019 Southeast Asia Primary Learning
‘Metrics (SEA-PLMF revealed the current state of our learning challenges.

‘The challenges in the Philippine education system may have been aggravated during
the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic by the closure of schools and the unplanned
‘and compulsory use of alternative delivery modes of instruction to prevent the suspension of
the academic year.

* Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Programme for Intemational Student
Assessment (ISA) Results rom PISA 2018, County Nol - Phitpies, 2018,

ewe PHL.paf (accessed 26 August 2022).
Tae Na Maton tial Cader’ Eineigency Fund (UNICEF), SEA-PLM 2019 National
Report of te Phipoies Souheas Aa river Leaning Mates, 2019,



‘This proposed measure seeks to address and resolve the gap between the current and
the expected learning competencies through the establishment of the Academic Recovery
and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program. This program shall strive to ensure that the learners

attain the most essent

learning competencies covering the subjects of reading,
mathematics, and sciences through the tutors who shall conduct the lessons in the program.
These tutors are composed of qualified college students, volunteers, teachers, and para-
teachers under the supervision of the Head Subject Teachers who monitor the progress of
learners. Further, even students from private schools may avail themselves of the ARAL
Program.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of the proposed measureis earnestly requested.

BRO

ROMAN T. ROMULO



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House itt no, 4240

Introduced by Representative Roman T, Romulo

AN ACT

ESTABLISHING AN ACADEMIC RECOVERY AND ACCESSIBLE LEARNING PROGRAM,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title, - This Act shall be known as "The Academic Recovery and
‘Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ The State recognizes its role to protect and promote
the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to take appropriate steps to make
such education accessible to al

Towards this end, the State shall establish an academic intervention program in basic
‘education that shall ensure that learners who are straggling in their lessons, especially in

mathematics, science, and reading comprehension, shall be able to attain the competencies
set by the Department of Education in their respective levels.

SEC. 3, Establishment of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program. ~
‘The ARAL Program is hereby established as the national academic intervention program to



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address the issues of learning loss and academic struggles of basic education learners and
provide specific solutions based on assessments and evaluation and effective planning to

bridge the gap between the learners’ current and expected competencies.

‘The ARAL Program shall be developed and implemented by the Department of
Education (Deptd) that may call upon various agencies such as the Department of
Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Commission on
Higher Education (CHEd), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA) for the successful attainment of the objective of the ARAL Program.

Unless the DepEd deems it fit and implements these interventions for a limited period
during school hours, the ARAL Program shall be enforced during the school year after school
hours of the learner or during weekends, except on the learner's day of rest or worship in
accordance with the beliefs or religion of the learner, and during the period between school

years, also known as the summer break.

{As far as practicable, the ARAL Program shall be conducted in the public schools where
the learners are or had previously been enrolled. It may use any delivery mode that is

appropriate and effective in improving the learning competencies of the learners.

SEC. 4. Objective of the ARAL Program. ~ It is the objective of the program that the
learners enrolled therein shall have attained the most essential learning competencies
covering the subjects of reading, science, and mathematics as determined under the current

curriculum.

SEC. 5. Learners under the ARAL Program. ~ The following learners shall be required
to enroll in the ARAL Program during the school year and summer vacation

‘a. Those who are failing in the examinations and tests as assessed and
evaluated by the teachers;

b. Those whose grades are at and marginally above the minimum level of
‘mastery required in the attainment of MELCs; and



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Those who have returned or are returning to school after a furlough.

Learners who want to take refresher courses may be allowed to enroll in the ARAL
Program during summer break only; Provided that priority shall be given to learners in the
previous paragraph.

Learners from private schools may enroll in the ARAL Program, Provided that, in case
of the limited number of slots for enrollment, preference shall be given to beneficiaries of
Educational Service Contracting and financial scholarships, and holders of Senior High School
vouchers.

SEC. 6. Tutors under the ARAL Program. The tutors under the ARAL Program shall be
responsible for conducting the lessons to ensure the learners’ attainment of the MELCs of the

respective subjects. These tutors may come from the followin,

‘a. Students of Teacher Education Institutions which may or may not be a part of its

curriculum;

b. Government internship Program (GIP) of DOLE;

Students in Higher and Technical-Vocational Educational Institutions taking up the
National Service Training Program under the Literacy Tra

Services;
d. Volunteers from non-government organizations or civil society organizations; and
e. Individual volunteers.

‘The institution, agency, or organization guarantees the qualifications, competence,
and character of each tutor it shall send to the DepEd for the implementation of the ARAL
Program. The DepEd shall assess the qualifications and competence and scrutinize the
character of individual volunteers. The tutors shall be supportive and empathetic to the
needs, motivation, and behavior of the learners.

The tutors shall report to the head subject teacher who is assigned to monitor the
progress of each learner. The head subject teacher shall employ the best methods and
ble tutor for the facilitation.

arrangements in pairing a learner or group of learners with ast
and promotion of positive tutor-learner relationships and a stronger understanding of the
learners’ learning needs resulting in greater academic, social, and motivational outcomes.



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For purposes of this Act, the tutors under the ARAL Program shall not be considered
to practice the profession of teaching.

‘Nothing in this Act prohibits the teachers from participating in the ARAL Program as
tutors. n the event that teachers and para-teachers as defined under Republic Act No. 7836,
otherwise known as the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act participate as tutors
under the ARAL Program, they shall be compensated accordingly subject to the existing rules

and regulations of the Department of Budget and Management.

SEC. 7, Assessment of the ARAL Program andits Learners. - To ensure the effectiveness
‘and success of the ARAL Program, the determination of the learning status and progress of
ment of appropriate tutoring strategies and interventions, and the

learners, the estat

evaluation of teaching effectiveness shall be grounded on evidence-based practices.
In addition to pre- and post-assessments, tutors shall conduct formative assessments,
of their learners to allow them to provide timely feedback on each learner and effectively

tailor their instruction based on the learners’ individual learning needs.

SEC. 8. Capability Building and Assessment of Tutors. - To successfully attain the
objective of the ARAL Program, the DepEd shall provide the tutors with the appropriate
training and seminars, focusing on innovative instructional techniques, interpersonal skills,
‘social-emotional learning, and cultural competency, among others, prior to their participation

in the ARAL Program.

SEC. 9. Updated Learner Information System (LIS). - The DepEd shall update its LIS
which shall contain the following additional information:

a. Name and academic background of tutors;

b. Name, grade level, and school of learners and their corresponding scores and
grades in their remedial subject;

c. Performance of learners on tasks and activities administered during the tutorial
sessions;

4d. Assessment of learners; and



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e. Tutorial materials, lectures, or modules used.

SEC. 10. Free Access to All DepEd's Learning Platforms; Special Services for Learners
‘and Tutors. ~ Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs) shall provide free access to all
learning platforms of the DepEd, including online educational platforms, digital libraries, and
‘other online knowledge hubs without any additional financial burden on all learners and
tutors, No charges shall be incurred in the download of data from these sites and applications.
Learners and tutors shall also be provided subsidized data plans by the DepEd for the use of
these learning platforms.

SEC. 11. Parental Involvement. ~ Tutors shall develop linkages and maintain regular
communication with the parents of the learners. The parents, being the primary resource and
essential support in the education of their children shall enhance their parental roles by
assisting their children through home learning activities and making significant contributions
to their educational development at home.

SEC. 12. Tax Incentives. Any donation, contribution, or grant, in cash or in kind, made
by individuals or organizations, public or private, local or foreign, shall be exempt from the
donor's tax and the cost of which shall be considered as an allowable deduction from the
{gross income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue
Code of 1997, as amended,

SEC. 13. Mandatory Review and Impact Assessment. - The DepEd shall conduct a
mandatory review of the implementation of this Act and submit an assessment report to
Congress on its impact and effectiveness, not later than one (1) year from the effectivity of
this Act.



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SEC. 14, Appropriations. ~ The DepEd shall immediately include in its budget the
amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act which shall be included in the

annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DepEd, in consultation with CHEd, DICT, DOST, TESDA, DOLE and
other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations for its effective implementation. The rules and regulations issued pursuant to this
cation in a newspaper of general

section shall take effect thirty (30) days after its pul
Circulation.

SEC. 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or any part hereofis declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this

Act.

SEC 17. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended

or modified accordingly.

SEC. 18. Effectivity. — Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the IRR, this Act shall take
effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general

circulation.

Approved,