While also ensuring that the well-being of frontline educators is protected.
According to the Department of Education (DepEd), it is now taking direct steps to ensure that funds for the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program reach teachers and educators nationwide.
For FY2026, the ARAL Program has been allocated by a total budget of PHP 8.94 billion.
More than PHP2.25 billion of this has been earmarked for learning materials, with resources and clear guidelines for its implementation already distributed to regional offices.
Currently, schools have PHP 1.09 billion available from the current ARAL fund, while an additional PHP 1.77 billion is set to be released for teaching aids, session support materials such as flashcards and visual aids, and for monitoring activities.
But the kost notable this year for the ARAL Program is the allocation of nearly PHP2 billion for the expansion of tutor support.
That is a significant jump from the previous PHP150 million, which was previously taken from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program and the Government Internship Program (GIP) under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Education Secretary Sonny Angara stressed that through the ARAL Program, DepEd is determined to address learning gaps in Reading, Science, and Mathematics and also ensure the welfare of educators.
“[P]rayoridad natin na pagsabayin ang mabilis na learning recovery at ang sapat na suporta para sa ating mga guro,” said Angara. “Sinisiguro natin na sa pagpapalawak ng ARAL program, hindi mao-overburden ang ating mga guro—mananatili sa itinakdang limitasyon ang kanilang workload at mababayaran nang tama ang kanilang extra service.”
In line with the implementation of the program this year, tutorial sessions under the ARAL that will be conducted by public school teachers are to be considered remediation classes.
DepEd noted that the time allocated to these sessions will officially be counted as part of their teaching load, with guidelines in place to ensure that teachers wjll not exceed the allowable limit of two hours of overload per day.
In addition, teachers who serve as tutors during weekdays may also receive teaching overload pay, provided that they exceed the prescribed six hours of actual classroom teaching.
Meanwhile, on weekends, official holidays, and during long vacations, teachers may also receive Vacation Service Credits (VSCs), where one hour of service is equivalent to 1.5 hours of VSC.
To facilitate the mobilization and training of tutors, as well as qualified external professionals who can work alongside teacher, the Department will launch an online platform for applicants this June.
To address and ease the burden on each school’s resources, DepEd is currently processing tutor support funds for rapid training and mobilization.
Although the agency acknowledges that the current funding is still insufficient to meet all needs, DepEd said it is making the most of its limited budget to meet critical expenditures and support schools.
“Magiging matagumpay lang ang pagbabago sa ating sistema ng edukasyon kung sabay nating aalagaan ang ating mga mag-aaral at ang mga gurong gumagabay sa kanila,” added Angara.