BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

As part of the administration’s continuing efforts to prioritize education under the leadership of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., the Department of Education (DepEd) officially launched the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program on Saturday to underscore the urgent need to address the country’s learning crisis and strengthen the foundational skills of Filipino learners. 

The ARAL Program was simultaneously launched nationwide with members of DepEd’s Executive Committee (ExeCom) leading activities in various parts of the country. The launch coincided with the celebration of President Marcos, Jr.’s birthday and International Literacy Day on September 8, underscoring the Philippines’ dedication to advancing quality education as a UNESCO Member State. 

In accordance with Republic Act No. 12028, signed by the President last year, the ARAL Program will provide Kindergarten to Grade 10 learners with tutorial support in Reading, Mathematics, and Science to help them attain the competencies expected at their grade level.

“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. Kaya’t lubos ang pasasalamat natin sa ating mahal na Pangulo na tiniyak na maisasabatas ang programang ito,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said. 

For School Year 2025–2026, ARAL will prioritize Reading (ARAL-Reading) to provide immediate support to learners who need it most—particularly low and high emerging readers, as well as those classified as frustrated readers. As of September 8, DepEd has identified 6,713,352 learner beneficiaries, who will be supported by 447,537 tutors and 45,084 school heads. 

ARAL-Reading will begin in the second quarter of SY 2025–2026. In succeeding phases, the program will expand to include ARAL-Mathematics (Grades 1–10), ARAL-Science (Grades 3–10), and ARAL-Summer Programs. 

To ensure readiness, DepEd has conducted nationwide tutor training, distributed learning resources, and rolled out the ARAL School Readiness and Responsiveness Audit (ASRRA). ARAL Tutors will include teachers, para-teachers, pre-service teachers, and other trained individuals, all of whom will receive appropriate training and compensation. Parents and guardians will also be engaged through orientations to strengthen their role in supporting their children’s learning at home and reinforcing lessons from the program. 

During the launch, Secretary Angara, together with members of DepEd’s ExeCom, also distributed EduKahon—the Department’s standardized school recovery kit—demonstrating DepEd’s commitment to ensuring learning continuity even in times of disruption. 

The ARAL Program builds on the gains of DepEd’s previous literacy initiatives such as the Bawat Bata Makababasa Program (BBMP) and the Nationwide Learning Recovery Program (NLRP), both of which led to significant improvements in reading and learning outcomes among participating learners.  

*All Photos from DepEd