Nearly P9 billion has been allocated under the 2026 national budget to expand the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian said, as the government seeks to accelerate learning recovery among Filipino students.

In a statement on Sunday, Gatchalian said the funding aims to address persistent learning gaps, particularly in reading proficiency, following disruptions in recent years.

Based on the Department of Education’s Middle of School Year Assessments, learners in Grades 3 to 6 improved their reading readiness by an average of five points, while those in Grades 7 to 10 recorded gains ranging from six to nine points. These improvements translate to around 3.42 million learners in Grades 3 to 6 and 1.72 million learners in Grades 7 to 10 moving closer to grade-level reading proficiency.

“Bahagi ng makasaysayang pondong inilaan natin para sa sektor ng edukasyon ngayong taon ang buong suporta para sa pagpapatupad ng ARAL Program. Mahalagang hakbang ito upang masugpo natin ang krisis sa edukasyon na matagal na nating hinaharap,” said Gatchalian, who sponsored the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act.

Under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, P8.96 billion has been earmarked for the ARAL Program.

The funding is expected to support the engagement of about 440,000 tutors and benefit an estimated 6.7 million learners nationwide during School Year 2026–2027.

Gatchalian said the expanded program underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening basic education and ensuring learners regain foundational skills, particularly in reading, as part of broader education reform efforts.