Budget Proposal Leaves ARAL Program Without Funding, Threatening Education Recovery Efforts

In a troubling development for educational recovery in the Philippines, the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program has not been allocated any funds in the proposed 2027 budget. Education Secretary Sonny Angara made this announcement during a hearing with the House appropriations committee, highlighting potential setbacks in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) efforts to battle the ongoing learning crisis.

Angara stated, “There’s a zero allotment for this under the 2027 budget,” reinforcing concerns that without financial support, the program’s impact on students struggling with essential skills could be severely hindered. The ARAL Program was enshrined in law (Republic Act No. 12028) in October 2024 to assist public school students with difficulties in reading, mathematics, and science.

Given the lack of funding in the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), DepEd has presented a funding request of P15.98 billion to lawmakers, aiming to implement the ARAL Program effectively. In contrast, the 2026 budget had already allocated P8.9 billion to support this initiative.

Angara shared positive results from the program’s previous cycle, noting that out of the 6.67 million students engaged, approximately 4.5 million showed improvement in reading skills, with 2.5 million reaching grade-level proficiency by the end of the last school year.

As of now, the focus has primarily been on reading interventions, but Angara expressed hopes that future efforts could incorporate support in mathematics and science. Ruby Bernardo, national chairperson of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, voiced her concerns over the lack of funding for the ARAL Program, emphasizing that remediation responsibilities should not remain solely with teachers, as this would compromise students' learning recovery.

“If the task would remain with the teachers, it would have a huge impact on the learning recovery of children. If there’s no funding, there would be no hiring of external tutors,” Bernardo remarked, citing concerns over teacher workload and potential adverse effects on student outcomes.

Angara appealed to lawmakers regarding the implications of the law governing the ARAL Program, which stipulates that teachers can only receive additional pay for excessive hours beyond their standard teaching load. This situation raises questions about how to compensate teachers involved in tutoring without proper budget allocations.

In a response to the ongoing budget concerns, Angara mentioned that DepEd is exploring the possibility of offering cash allowances for food provisions, pending approval from the Commission on Audit. Additionally, he indicated that they are considering including other teacher-related tasks in the standard six-hour teaching requirement, which could encompass peer mentoring or student advising activities.

Karol Mark Yee, executive director of the Second Congressional Commission on Education, emphasized the urgency of funding the ARAL Program, highlighting the vast number of struggling readers who urgently need support. However, he also called for a detailed review of how the nearly P9 billion of ARAL funding from the current year was utilized before committing to further expenditures.

Additional Budget Requests

For 2027, DepEd has a grand request of P976 billion for its operations, including its attached agencies. This is a notable reduction from the P1 trillion allocation in 2026.

Alongside the ARAL funding, the department seeks an additional P145.19 billion for various programs while its agencies are asking for P1.74 billion more to meet their operational needs. Notably, the request includes P33.53 billion for hiring new personnel, which is absent from the proposed budget.

Angara criticized the planned P11 billion for the school-based feeding program, pointing out that it represents a significant decline from the P25.7 billion allocated last year. The reduction may necessitate an adjustment in the feeding cycle, potentially shortening it from 180 days to just 120 days, which would limit access for all Grade 1 students.

Other budgetary requests also tackle pressing concerns like school violence and expanding access to mental health services, vital for improving the learning environment. In light of these proposed cuts, Angara acknowledged that it could slow down the department’s reforms but remains hopeful for restoration of some critical items.

As the budget discussions continue, the educational sector watches closely, aware of how these financial decisions will shape the future of learning in the Philippines.

– Rappler.com