SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian pledged to push measures that will accelerate the education sector’s recovery from the Covid19 pandemic to achieve the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028’s goals of implementing catch-up programs that will address learning losses.

One of these measures is Senate Bill 1604 or the proposed Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Act, which seeks to establish a national learning intervention program that will address learning loss.

The ARAL program shall be grounded on well-systematized tutorial sessions, well-designed intervention plans and learning resources, and careful determination and assessment of learners, among others.

It shall cover essential learning competencies in Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and Science for Grades 3 to 10.

For Kindergarten learners, the ARAL program shall focus on strengthening literacy and numeracy.

“Patuloy nating isusulong ang mga programang tutugon sa mga naging pinsala ng pandemya sa sektor ng edukasyon, lalong lalo na sa ating mga mag-aaral na matagal nang hindi nakabalik sa kanilang mga silid-aralan. Titiyakin natin ang suporta sa ating mga mag-aaral upan makamit nila ang sapat na kaalaman at kakayahan,” Gatchalian said.

The PDP also aims to expand access to the Alternative Learning System by establishing additional community learning centers in municipalities and cities.

Gatchalian said this is consistent with Republic Act 11510 or the Alternative Learning System Act, which he sponsored during the 18th Congress.