Highlights: The ARAL Program offers free academic support to students struggling with learning gaps due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to help learners improve their competencies in reading, mathematics, and science, ensuring they meet grade-level standards. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) 12028, or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Act , into law during a ceremony at MalacaƱang on October 18, 2024. The ARAL Law seeks to accelerate learning recovery for students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and address widening educational gaps. In his address, President Marcos highlighted the critical state of education in the Philippines, referencing data from the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) that revealed 75% of Filipino students were below the minimum proficiency levels in reading, mathematics, and science. He stressed the need for immediate action. "This alarming trend remains persistent and ...