DepEd says reading levels improved after rolling out the ARAL Program, now backed by ₱8.93 billion for 2026. Millions of learners moved closer to grade-level proficiency. Can sustained funding close the learning gap?
The DepEd Philippines reported improved reading levels among public school learners following the rollout of its Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program, as the initiative receives ₱8.93 billion in funding for 2026.
Assessment data released by DepEd showed a decline in the number of learners classified as struggling readers across several grade levels after the program’s implementation. The allocation marks the first full year of nationwide funding for the learning recovery initiative since it was institutionalized in 2025, as the government moves to expand interventions in reading and mathematics.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the size of the funding reflects the scale of learning delays identified through nationwide assessments.
“Dito po sa ARAL Program, unprecedented din po iyong spending. Ito iyong para humabol tayo dahil lumalabas na nahuli na ang ating mga bata sa reading and math,” Angara said during a Malacañang press briefing.
Results from the Department’s Middle of School Year assessments, which recorded a 96 percent submission rate as of January 5, 2026, showed fewer learners struggling with reading compared with the beginning of the school year.
DepEd data indicated that reading readiness among learners in Grades 3 to 6 improved by nearly five points, while learners in Grades 7 to 10 posted gains ranging from six to nine points. Around 3.42 million learners in Grades 3 to 6 and 1.72 million learners in Grades 7 to 10 moved closer to grade level reading proficiency.
The department attributed the improvement to intensified remediation, targeted tutorial sessions, and regular monitoring of learner progress under the ARAL framework.
For 2026, DepEd plans to engage more than 440,000 tutors nationwide, including both DepEd and non DepEd personnel. The expanded funding is intended to increase participation from external and volunteer tutors, reduce teacher overtime, and ease classroom workload.
With the increased allocation, DepEd projects that about 6.7 million learners will receive ARAL services in School Year 2026 to 2027, nearly double the number served in 2025. The funding will also support tutor training aligned with literacy standards, expanded learning materials, and strengthened monitoring systems linked to the Learner Information System.
DepEd said continued support from the executive and legislative branches is expected to embed learning remediation as a long term component of the basic education system while addressing persistent literacy gaps nationwide.
