“Many people want to help educate our children, but the process also needs to be made simpler, clearer, and more efficient for both tutors and schools,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.
“Through ARAL TutorKo, we are strengthening the system that supports tutoring — from application and deployment to monitoring — so that more learners can receive the right support at the right time,” he added.
DepEd said the web-based system will help improve coordination among tutors, schools, and education officials while strengthening accountability and data-driven decision-making for interventions targeting learners who need additional support in foundational literacy and numeracy.
However, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines criticized the continued reliance on teachers for ARAL implementation, saying the program has added to educators’ responsibilities despite DepEd’s claim that teachers are receiving support through reduced workload.
ACT argued that teachers’ workload has continued to increase under the three-term school calendar, with ARAL duties being added to their regular teaching responsibilities while the government has yet to hire enough education support personnel.
Stronger engagement
with private schools
Angara and National Capital Region Assistant Secretary and Regional Director Dr. Jocelyn Andaya visited Sproutville International School in Bonifacio Global City to help raise and maintain the quality of basic education and reaffirm the government’s commitment to work closely with private schools.
The visit formed part of DepEd’s continuing engagement with private educational institutions as the agency pushes for higher learning standards, stronger school safety measures, and improved learning outcomes under the Marcos administration
The school visit also allowed DepEd officials to observe Sproutville’s academic programs, Montessori learning environment, and emergency preparedness during a community-wide earthquake and fire drill.
School officials welcomed Angara on a campus tour that showcased Sproutville’s classrooms, innovation laboratories, learning resource centers, and student support facilities.
The officials also met with teachers and administrators to discuss the school’s approach to early childhood education and how its programs complement national education standards.