SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian pushed anew for the institutionalization of the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education or ALIVE in all public and private basic education schools outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, amid the month-long observance of Ramadan.

Gatchalian proposed this in the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education Act or Senate Bill No. 382, which seeks to provide Muslim Filipino learners with appropriate and relevant educational opportunities.

The bill also covers learners enrolled in the Alternative Learning System.

It seeks to ensure Muslim Filipino learners’ maximum participation in national development, nation-building, and national unity.

The bill provides that upon the written consent of parents and guardians, Muslim and non-Muslim Filipino learners can take the subjects of Arabic Language or Islamic Values Education, or both.

The teaching of the Arabic language will seek to develop learners’ functional literacy in Arabic.

The teaching of Islamic values, on the other hand, will guide learners to be makatao, maka-Diyos, makakalikasan, and makabayan. Islamic values education will also emphasize interfaith dialogue, multiculturalism, and respect for differences in belief.

The proposed measure also seeks the provision of facilities, equipment, relevant textbooks and instructional materials, and recruitment and training or capacity-building of Asatidz or teachers in most Muslim Filipino communities.

The capacity-building of Asatidz will include trainers, supervisors, and administrators.

The bill further seeks to provide technical and financial educational assistance to DepEd-accredited or recognized private madaris, an Arabic word that means school.

“Sa pag-angat natin sa kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa, mahalagang tiyakin nating hindi mapag-iiwanan ang mga kababayan nating Muslim. Bilang pagkilala na rin sa kanilang mahalagang papel sa kaunlaran at pagkakaisa ng ating bansa, isinusulong natin ang pagtatatag ng ALIVE Program bilang mahalagang bahagi ng ating sistema ng edukasyon,” said Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

The proposed measure also seeks the creation of the ALIVE Program Multi-Year Roadmap, which will guide government agencies and private stakeholders on the program’s implementation.

The roadmap shall cover a minimum period of five years.