DepEd Seeks Separate Pay for ARAL Program Teachers

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday urged Congress to authorize a separate compensation mechanism for teachers serving as tutors under its learning recovery program as it steps up efforts to improve literacy gaps. “We will not abandon learners who need additional academic support, nor will we neglect the welfare of the teachers who help them,” Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara said in Filipino in a news release. “What we need are sound policies, clear guidelines, and sufficient funding to ensure that implementation is sustainable and equitable,” he added. The Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program is the government’s targeted intervention to address learning gaps among students through tutorials in reading, mathematics, and other foundational competencies. The 2024 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) revealed that Filipino grade 5 students lagged in reading and mathematics across the region, with only 13% and 14% of learners reaching minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics, respectively. Under the current ARAL Law, or Republic Act No. 12028, teachers may be compensated for tutoring only through overload pay or vacation service credits, after their prescribed six hours of actual classroom teaching. Meanwhile, external tutors may be compensated in accordance with approved program guidelines and the available budget. DepEd noted that the program’s budget in the Fiscal Year 2026 General Appropriations Act provides only allocations for overload pay and the hiring of external tutors, and not a separate appropriation for teachers working double-time as ARAL tutors. “DepEd’s position is clear: we want to support and recognize the additional work of our teachers under the ARAL Program,” Mr. Angara said. “However, we must also comply with the law and work within the budget allocated to us.” The agency’s proposal will require amendments to the existing law to align with appropriations for School Year 2027–2028 and to allow compensation among teachers regardless of their regular teaching load. The proposal will require around P4.307 billion budget for a uniform-rate scheme compensation, while a Prime Hourly Teaching Rate-based approach can reach at least P7.266 billion. “We will provide compensation once there is a clear legal basis and sufficient funding to do so,” Mr. Angara said. The Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) also backs the call, calling it a “much-needed investment” in the education sector, as it helps ease teachers’ workload, which in turn supports high-quality interventions. “Learning recovery cannot rely solely on the goodwill and volunteerism of our teachers,” PBEd Executive Director Hannibal E. Camua said in a statement. “Our educators deserve fair compensation, while our learners deserve consistent, high-quality academic support.” “Providing dedicated funding for ARAL tutors is a necessary step to ensure the successful implementation of one of the country’s most important learning recovery initiatives,” he added. DepEd has allocated P8.94 billion to the ARAL Program from its P1.015 trillion 2026 budget. Over 440,000 tutors from DepEd and external volunteers are expected to be part of the program this academic year. — Almira Louise S. Martinez