The Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program, or Aral, of the Department of Education (DepEd) is a worthwhile and much-needed initiative. It aims to provide remediation lessons to public school students struggling with the fundamentals of reading, science, and math.

Last January, DepEd reported encouraging gains from Aral’s early implementation. Reading readiness scores increased by approximately five points in Grades 3 to 6, while the scores of students in Grades 7 to 10 improved by six to nine points, bringing millions of students closer to grade-level proficiency.

Under DepEd guidelines, Aral summer classes should have a 1:10 teacher-to-learner ratio. To implement the program properly, schools may hire external tutors or tap volunteer teachers, with the 2026 national budget allocating P1.96 billion for their salaries and allowances.