Over 150 learners in Albay recover from learning gaps

By Sally Atento-Altea

LEGAZPI CITY --- A total of 161 learners from public elementary schools in Albay province have completed a 25-day learning remedial program, an initiative aimed at helping students who are struggling in reading, mathematics, and science.

The learning sessions aimed at enhancing their essential skills in the three core subjects — critical competencies that were severely affected by the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rowena Ondiz, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Education Department, emphasized how the pandemic widened educational gaps, particularly in foundational literacy.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of our learners, especially elementary graders, experienced setbacks in reading literacy,” she said.

Implemented under the Academic Remediation, Acceleration, and Livelihood (ARAL) Project, the initiative is a joint effort of the provincial government of Albay, the Department of Education–Schools Division Office (DepEd-SDO) Albay, and Chalkboard Inc., a non-government organization dedicated to providing learning interventions for K-10 students.

The ARAL Project is part of a broader effort of the provincial government to address pandemic-induced learning loss.

Targeting students with identified learning gaps, the ARAL Project was piloted across six public schools: Guinobatan Elementary Central School, Camalig North Central School, Libon Elementary Central School, Polangui North Central School, Cale Elementary School in Tiwi, and San Andres Integrated School in Sto. Domingo.

Beneficiaries were primary learners from Grades 3 to 6, selected by DepEd Albay based on academic performance.

According to Gov. Glenda Ong- Bongao, the program demonstrates a deep commitment to education to empower young learners and prepare them for a better future.

“This event truly displays how one’s dedication to education produces equipped students,” Bongao said during the completion ceremony.

“Thank you to our tutors for your unwavering patience and dedication to impart knowledge and essential skills. Your efforts ensure that these learners receive the best possible support,” she added.

For the tutors involved, the results showed improvements in the learner’s foundational literacy. Baby Shane Layosa, an ARAL tutor, shared her firsthand experience watching students progress.

“Many of them showed real improvement, especially those who initially struggled with basic letter and sound recognition. We hope they retain what they learned and that parents continue guiding them, especially during vacation.”

Her fellow tutor, Wileth Jane Flores, echoed the sentiment, calling on parents to sustain the learning momentum:

“This program is not only for today. It’s for the future of our children. As we wrap up these sessions, may parents continue to be partners in learning not only in reading but also as they go back to their schools,” she said

As Albay charts its course toward post-pandemic recovery, the ARAL Project serves as a model of collaborative, community-centered education reform towards building a more literate, resilient, and empowered generation. (Raiza Lucido contributed to this report/PIA5/Albay)