DepEd’s ARAL Program delivers early proof of learning reform in action

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MAKATI CITY, 7 January 2026 — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday reported measurable improvements in reading outcomes under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, citing assessment data showing significant reductions in the number of struggling readers across grade levels, as the Marcos administration allocates Php8.93 billion in the proposed 2026 national budget to fully scale up the program nationwide. 

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the proposed Php8.93-billion allocation marks the first time ARAL will be fully funded since it was institutionalized into law, enabling the program to scale up proven strategies to help learners catch up in reading and mathematics.  

“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 Malacañang’s press briefing on Tuesday.

Based on DepEd’s Middle of School Year (MoSY) assessments with a 96 percent submission rate as of January 5, 2026, the proportion of struggling readers dropped compared with the beginning of the school year.  

Among Grades 3 to 6, reading readiness improved by an average of five points, while Grades 7 to 10 recorded gains of up to six to nine points, translating to 3.42 million learners in Grades 3–6 and 1.72 million learners in Grades 7–10 moving closer to grade-level proficiency in reading.

Behind the figures are learners like Rachel, a Grade 7 student from Iriga City. At the start of the school year, Rachel often hesitated to read aloud. After joining the ARAL Program, she now reads better in both Filipino and English and has gained confidence in class. “Salamat kasi may natutunan ako sa pagbabasa, napakalaking tulong po ito sa akin,” Rachel said, thanking her tutor and teacher for the support she received.

The department said these improvements were driven by structured remediation, focused tutorial sessions, and regular learner monitoring under the ARAL Program—interventions that will be expanded and standardized with full funding in 2026.

Under full funding for 2026, DepEd plans to engage more than 440,000 tutors nationwide, including both DepEd and non-DepEd personnel.  

Angara said the expanded budget would enable wider participation of external and volunteer tutors, reducing reliance on teacher overtime and easing classroom workload pressures.

With increased resources, DepEd estimates that ARAL coverage will expand to about 6.7 million learners in School Year 2026–2027, nearly double the roughly three million learners reached in 2025. The department said funding will also support tutor training aligned with literacy standards, improved learning materials, and strengthened monitoring and evaluation systems, including learner tracking through the Learner Information System.

 

The support of the President and the Congress for the program signals a shift from short-term learning recovery toward embedding remediation permanently within the basic education system, as the department continues to address persistent learning gaps in reading and mathematics nationwide.  

Future-Ready EducAItion: PBBM, Angara launch AI Program to support teachers, learners

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QUEZON CITY, 9 January 2026 — Learners, teachers, parents, and school leaders will be guided and upskilled on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in basic education, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Friday led the launch of the Accelerating Governance and Adaptive Pedagogy through Artificial Intelligence (Project AGAP.AI). 

The government’s flagship initiative places education stakeholders at the center of the country’s AI transition, providing them with clear frameworks, training, and safeguards to ensure that artificial intelligence strengthens teaching, school governance, and learning outcomes amid rapid technological change. Project AGAP.AI will be implemented in phases in 2026.

“In our language, Agapay means to support or to bridge. This is what we are trying to do today, standing next to our people and bridging the gap between technology and education,” President Marcos said.

Sec. Angara said Project AGAP.AI is anchored on a clear national framework aligned with the Bagong Pilipinas agenda and the Quality Basic Education Development Plan (QBEDP).

“Isang malinaw na framework, na nakaangkla sa Bagong Pilipinas at sa Quality Basic Education Development Plan. Para palakasin ang pagtuturo, pagandahin ang pamamahala, at maghatid ng mas mahusay na resulta sa buong education system,” Angara said. “Makatao. Makaguro. Makabata. This is how we build a future-ready Philippines. And a future-ready ASEAN.”

A core feature of Project AGAP.AI is large-scale capacity-building. Throughout 2026, DepEd will roll out a nationwide AI training program, branded as AI Ready ASEAN Philippines, designed for teachers, learners, and parents, targeted to reach up to 1.5 million participants nationwide, including 1.05 million learners, 300,000 teachers, and 150,000 parents. The training program is being implemented alongside local partner implementers such as Limitless Lab Organization, SmartCitiesPH, Inc., Break the Fake Movement, CGPH Incorporated, and ASEAN Youth Organization.

DepEd said the initiative is funded by the ASEAN Foundation and powered by Google.org. The training introduces AI in plain language, covering fundamentals, practical classroom use, ethics and data privacy, and how to address risks such as misinformation.  

The Department also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with ASEAN Foundation during the launch to formalize its partnership to promote responsible and inclusive AI literacy in the country.

To ensure clear guardrails, DepEd is set to release its Foundational Guidelines on the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Basic Education. The guidelines will outline standards on responsible use, learner protection, inclusivity, and ethical deployment of AI tools in schools.

 

Curriculum reforms are also underway. DepEd plans to integrate AI concepts into the basic education curriculum to strengthen learners’ AI literacy and computational thinking. Complementing this, AI-focused in-service training modules for teachers are scheduled for rollout by the second quarter of 2026 to support classroom implementation.

The initiative is being implemented with the support of both international and local partners. DepEd is working with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Responsible AI for Social Empowerment & Education (MIT RAISE) and the Day of AI Initiative on curriculum integration and teacher training.

At the system level, DepEd will pilot emerging AI-powered tools in 2026 to support teaching, assessment, and school management, developed by the Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR), with the goal of strengthening data-driven and evidence-based decision-making across the education system. Existing AI-powered platforms already in use will also be expanded, subject to national standards on reliability, fairness, and data privacy.  

Project AGAP.AI aligns with the ASEAN Vision 2045, and the Marcos administration’s broader digital transformation agenda, with education positioned as a critical foundation for preparing Filipinos to navigate an increasingly AI-driven economy.

Angara: Classroom observation reforms underway to ease pressure on teachers

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MAKATI CITY, 9 January 2026 - The Department of Education (DepEd) recognizes the concerns raised by teachers regarding classroom observation, as Education Secretary Sonny Angara affirms that their welfare remains a priority. 

At this time, the Department is not moving toward a complete suspension of classroom observation. When conducted properly, humanely, and with a clear purpose, classroom observation will remain an important tool for improving teaching quality and learner outcomes.

DepEd also clarified that classroom observation is not meant to be high-stakes or punitive. It is intended to be formative, supportive, and collaborative—conducted within schools and among peers—to strengthen a culture of teamwork and shared learning.

Rather than a blanket suspension, the Department is drafting new guidelines to shift away from traditional, high-stakes practices toward more modern, teacher-centered approaches. 

These include full classroom observations when appropriate; short and focused 5- to 10-minute walkthrough observations; instructional rounds; and reflective, data-informed feedback mechanisms designed to support teachers without adding unnecessary pressure. 

Secretary Angara said the reforms are consistent with President Marcos’ directive to protect and support teachers. 

“Hindi namin sinasuspinde ang classroom observation dahil mahalaga ito sa teaching quality at learner outcomes. Ang binabago namin ay ang sistema—mula high-stakes, papunta sa mas makatao at supportive na approaches. Malinaw ang bilin ng Pangulo: alagaan ang ating mga guro,” Angara said. 

“Nagpapasalamat kami kay Teacher Agnes Buenaflor at sa lahat ng ating mga guro. Malinaw ang bilin ng Pangulo: alagaan ang ating mga teachers,” he added. 

These reforms aim to ensure that classroom observation remains purposeful and constructive while upholding professional standards and safeguarding the well-being of teachers. The Department continues to welcome feedback as it refines its policies in support of better teaching and better learning for all.