Senate President Win Gatchalian reiterated his commitment to secure funding for the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program to sustain gains in student literacy.
“Ito naman ang ating commitment sa DepEd dahil kung maganda ‘yung programa, kailangang mapondohan para ma-sustain iyong gains,” Gatchalian said during the Senate Committee on Finance’s briefing on the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) and its attached agencies.
“1.37 million learners moved out of the struggling reader category because of the ARAL Program.”
Citing an impact evaluation by the DepEd, nonprofit Youth Impact, and the World Bank, Gatchalian pointed out that 1.37 million learners moved out of the struggling reader category because of the ARAL Program.
Following implementation of the ARAL program, 730,000 learners are now reading at their proper grade level.
The program also improved reading proficiency among Grades 1-3 learners by 37% in a standard school year.
The program also improved reading proficiency among Grades 1-3 learners by 37% in a standard school year.
During his stint as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Gatchalian championed the allocation of a record P8.9 billion for the program.
The 2027 National Expenditure Program, however, lacks a dedicated line item allocation for the ARAL program.
To maintain and expand learning gains, DepEd is requesting P15.63 billion to fund the ARAL Program for 2027.
