Nearly P9 billion under the 2026 national budget will expand the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program to accelerate learning recovery, Senator Win Gatchalian assured.

According to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Middle of School Year Assessments, Grade 3 to 6 learners improved their reading readiness by an average of five points, while Grades 7 to 10 learners had improvements of between six to nine points.

These gains translate to 3.42 million Grades 3 to 6 learners and 1.72 million learners in Grades 7 to 10 inching closer to grade-level reading proficiency. 

“Bahagi ng makasaysayang pondong inilaan natin para sa sektor ng edukasyon ngayong taon ang buong suporta para sa pagpapatupad ng ARAL Program. Mahalagang hakbang ito upang masugpo natin ang krisis sa edukasyon na matagal na nating hinaharap,” said Gatchalian, sponsor of the ‘Academic Recovery and Learning (ARAL) Program Act.

Under the P2026 national budget, P8.96 billion is allocated for the ARAL Program to engage 440,000 tutors and reach 6.7 million learners for School Year 2026-2027. 

Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS GATCHALIAN