National learning recovery benchmarks face immediate structural disruption as budget allocations for foundational academic intervention programs remain unassigned in upcoming fiscal plans.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is calling for broader support for its learning recovery programs to help students across the country catch up on their studies.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara made the appeal following his visits to Iloilo City and Bacolod City on Wednesday, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize learning through the administration’s Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program.
Among the initiatives highlighted was the launch of BIG BOOK materials for Kindergarten to Grade 3 pupils, featuring principles of the circular economy to promote early learning.
Angara said the number of students struggling with their studies nationwide had dropped to 2.2 million in School Year 2025-2026, from 6.7 million previously, following the implementation of learning recovery initiatives.
To sustain the progress, DepEd has requested an additional budget of more than P15 billion for the ARAL Program under the proposed 2027 national budget.
ABS-CBN
The funds would cover honoraria for teachers handling additional teaching loads, tutor training, payments for external tutors, summer programs, and consultations for learning remediation.