DepEd's ARAL Program Shows Promising Results in Reading Outcomes

DepEd's Middle of School Year (MoSY) assessments, based on 96% of schools, show a decrease in struggling readers. Grades 3 to 6 improved by an average of five points in reading readiness, while Grades 7 to 10 gained six to nine points. These improvements represent 3.42 million learners in Grades 3-6 and 1.72 million learners in Grades 7-10 moving closer to grade-level reading proficiency.

The Department of Education (DepEd) announced measurable gains in reading outcomes through its Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program. This success coincides with the Marcos administration's proposed P8.93-billion allocation in the 2026 national budget, marking the first full funding for ARAL since its institutionalization. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted that this budget will allow the expansion of strategies to help students in reading and mathematics, addressing previous declines in these areas.

The ARAL Program has positively impacted struggling learners, like a Grade 7 student named Rachel who gained confidence in reading aloud after joining the program. DepEd credits these improvements to structured remediation, focused tutorial sessions, and regular learner monitoring. The program is expected to involve over 440,000 tutors, including DepEd personnel and volunteers, to support its expansion and reduce teacher workload.

With the increased budget, the ARAL Program aims to cover 6.7 million learners in School Year 2026–2027, nearly doubling the three million learners reached in 2025. This funding will also enhance tutor training, improve learning materials, and strengthen monitoring systems through the Learner Information System. The nationwide expansion signifies a long-term commitment to embedding remediation within the Philippine basic education system to address persistent gaps in reading and mathematics.