Manila:Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has committed to securing adequate funding for the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act, emphasizing its role in enhancing student literacy.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian highlighted an impact evaluation by the Department of Education (DepEd), Youth Impact, and the World Bank, which showed that 1.37 million learners have transitioned out of the struggling reader category through the ARAL Program. Of these learners, 730,000 are now reading at their appropriate grade level, with reading proficiency among Grades 1 to 3 learners improving by 37 percent in a standard school year.
Gatchalian has been a strong advocate for the ARAL Program, championing a record PHP8.9 billion allocation. Despite this, the 2027 National Expenditure Program currently lacks a dedicated line-item allocation for the program. The DepEd is seeking PHP15.63 billion to sustain and expand the program's learning gains by 2027.
The ARAL Program, established under Republic Act 12028, provides targeted learning interventions and tutoring in reading, mathematics, and science for students facing difficulties. Implemented by the DepEd, the program aims to bridge learning gaps and help learners achieve proficiency in key subjects through structured remediation and support.
