AutoAndTech | MAKATI CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) has officially rolled out its Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, a nationwide initiative designed to boost literacy and address pandemic-era learning losses among Filipino students. The launch took place on September 8, coinciding with both International Literacy Day and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s birthday, underscoring the administration’s prioritization of education reforms.
The ARAL Program is backed by Republic Act No. 12028, signed into law last year by President Marcos, and will initially provide tutorial support to Kindergarten through Grade 10 learners. The focus areas include Reading, Mathematics, and Science, with the goal of strengthening foundational skills and ensuring grade-level competency.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the program’s long-term vision: “Layunin natin sa ARAL na hindi lamang tiyakin na makakahabol ang ating mga mag-aaral na nahuhuli sa klase—we are also committed to building stronger foundational skills, because Key Stage 1 is the most critical stage in every child’s development.”
For the School Year 2025–2026, ARAL will begin with ARAL-Reading, targeting struggling readers across the country. DepEd has already identified 6.7 million student beneficiaries, who will be supported by over 447,000 tutors and 45,000 school heads. The phased rollout will later expand to include ARAL-Mathematics (Grades 1–10), ARAL-Science (Grades 3–10), and ARAL-Summer Programs.
Preparations for the launch included nationwide tutor training, learning resource distribution, and the implementation of the ARAL School Readiness and Responsiveness Audit (ASRRA). Tutors will consist of teachers, para-teachers, pre-service teachers, and trained volunteers, all of whom will receive training and compensation. Parents and guardians are also being engaged to reinforce lessons at home.
As part of the program’s unveiling, DepEd distributed EduKahon kits, standardized school recovery packages aimed at supporting continuity of learning even during disruptions. The ARAL Program builds upon the successes of earlier DepEd initiatives such as the Bawat Bata Makababasa Program (BBMP) and the Nationwide Learning Recovery Program (NLRP), both of which delivered measurable improvements in literacy outcomes.
With the ARAL Program, the Department of Education is positioning the Philippines to tackle the learning crisis head-on, ensuring that every child has access to quality education and the tools needed for academic success.
