It will offer the learners the opportunity to catch up and ensure that they are ready for the next grade level.
From May 6 to June 3, 2026, the Department of Education (DepEd) will open the door of opportunity for students who are falling behind in their studies through expanded summer remediation programs.
The initiative is centered on the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program, a flagship intervention that will focus on improving the reading and mathematics skills of 3.7 million incoming Grade 2 to Grade 11 students.
Meanwhile, for graduating students, the Senior High School Remediation Program is available to 2.1 million incoming Grade 12 students to ensure their mastery of English, Filipino, and Mathematics.
In addition, there is also a summer academic remedial program that will provide assistance to 141,000 students who failed one or two subjects in the previous year.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the importance of the program under the principle that there should be no student should be left behind.
“Tungkulin nating siguruhin na ang bawat mag-aaral ay may sapat na suporta. Narito ang DepEd para alalayan ang ating mga mag-aaral na mapaghusay ang kanilang kaalaman,” he said.
According to the Education department, effectiveness of these interventions has been proven.
Comparing the beginning-of-school-year (BOSY) and end-of-school-year (EOSY) assessments, the literacy gap narrowed by 33 percentage points in Grades 1-3; 16 percentage points in Grades 4-6; and 28 percentage points in Grades 7-10.
To make this happen, Angara said that the DepEd will mobilize some 607,000 DepEd teachers and volunteer tutors nationwide to ensure that every child receives adequate attention, guidance, and motivation for effective recovery in their studies.
Based on RA No. 12028 (Section 7), those who can serve as tutors in the Aral Program are the following: teachers from elementary and secondary schools, provided that they are not their own students; para-teachers who have taken the licensure exam but were not lucky enough to be granted a special permit by the Board for Professional Teachers; pre-service teachers or students currently taking an Education course.
Meanwhile, according to the IRR (Section 12), tutors must meet minimum qualifications in their professional and educational background. This includes teachers, para-teachers, pre-service teachers and non-licensed education graduates, retired teachers, other licensed professionals, college graduates, and others as determined by the DepEd.
The law also allows the DepEd to hire other individuals who are qualified, competent, and of good character.
Aside from the academic aspect, the DepEd will also provide learning resources, incentives for teachers, and health support such as vision and hearing screenings, as well as free meals for children.
It was also emphasized that tutors must demonstrate proficiency in the subjects they will teach, as well as being proficient in various teaching methods.
To end, Angara emphasized that the success of this initiative depends on the unity of the school and home.
“Nananawagan tayo sa ating mga magulang at guro na magkaisa sa mahalagang adhikaing ito. Ang ating pagtutulungan ang magsisilbing matibay na pundasyon upang maging matagumpay ang balik-eskwela ng ating mga kabataan,” told the DepEd chief.