TO ADDRESS the learning loss because of the Covid19 pandemic, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian proposed to tap college students as tutors in the learning recovery program of the government.

“Sa pagbangon ng sektor ng edukasyon, higit nating kinakailangan ang tulong ng ating mga komunidad, kabilang ang mga mag-aaral sa kolehiyo. Dahil sa lawak ng naging epekto ng pandemya sa sektor ng edukasyon, dapat palawigin ang ating mga pagsisikap upang maabot ang mas maraming mga mag-aaral,” the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture said.

Under Senate Bill 2355 or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning or ARAL Program Act filed by the senator last year, tertiary level students may volunteer as tutors if they are among the top students in their class on the subject that they plan to teach.

They must also complete their Literacy Training Service under the National Service Training Program and must pass a mock tutoring session administered by the Department of Education.

Aside from college students, teachers and para-teachers shall also serve as tutors under the ARAL Program.

Gatchalian proposed the establishment of the ARAL Program to serve as a national learning intervention program that includes well-systematized tutorial sessions.

It will focus on the most essential learning competencies under Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, Science for Grades 3 to 10, and numeracy and literacy skills for kindergarten learners.

The proposed program aims to help learners who are struggling to achieve the minimum level of mastery required in Language, Mathematics, and Science.

It also aims to benefit learners who did not enroll in School Year 2020-2021 to encourage their return to school.