The Department of Education (DepEd) is expanding its Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program to include mathematics, giving more public school learners access to targeted support for numeracy and other learning gaps.
The expansion follows the operationalization of DepEd Memorandum No. 060, s. 2026, which implements Republic Act No. 12028, or the ARAL Program Act. Under the new guidelines, ARAL Mathematics will cover learners from Grade 1 to Grade 10 and use diagnostic assessments to identify specific areas where students need support.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 results showed that progress can be made when schools focus on foundational skills, while also highlighting the need for continued intervention.
“The latest PISA results showed us that real progress is possible when we focus on foundational skills, but it also served as a clear reminder of how much ground we still need to cover,” Angara said.
ARAL Mathematics will use the Rapid Mathematics Assessment (RMA) to profile learners and identify learning gaps. Tutors will then develop an Individual Mathematics Intervention Plan (IMIP) to provide targeted support based on each learner’s needs, from basic number skills to more advanced concepts such as algebra.
DepEd is also giving schools flexibility in delivering tutoring sessions. Depending on their circumstances, schools may conduct sessions face-to-face, online, or through a blended setup. Tutoring may take place during pull-out periods, after school, or on weekends.
The expanded program builds on the implementation of ARAL Reading, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Angara recently observed during a visit to Catbalogan III Central Elementary School in Samar. The visit highlighted efforts to help struggling readers strengthen their foundational skills.
Angara emphasized that reading and mathematics must progress together as schools work to address learning gaps. “Reading opens the door to knowledge, while mathematics builds the logic and critical thinking our youth need for the future,” he said.
To maintain focused instruction, tutoring groups will have 10 to 15 learners per tutor. Sessions will emphasize self-paced learning, with learners working through structured worksheets while tutors guide and support their progress rather than relying solely on traditional lectures.
Weekday tutoring sessions will be limited to one hour per day, while weekend sessions for multi-shift schools may run for up to two hours. Nationwide implementation of ARAL Mathematics across public schools will begin in Term 2 of School Year 2026–2027, allowing schools time to prepare staffing, learning resources, and schedules.
