The Department of Education (DepEd) has teamed up with Chalkboard, a leader in tutoring services, to launch the “ARAL Program” (Academic Remediation, Acceleration, and Livelihood), an ambitious initiative focused on enhancing literacy and numeracy among public school students.
This partnership was formalized with a Memorandum of Agreement signed on October 14 at the DepEd Central Office in Pasig City by DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and Chalkboard CEO Kristine E. Brown.
Together, they aim to boost educational quality for K-10 learners in the Philippines.
Chalkboard’s curriculum for the ARAL Program is grounded in evidence-based teaching methods and integrates advanced technology to track and enhance student progress. The six-week program includes intensive tutoring sessions tailored to each student’s needs, delivered through both in-person and digital platforms.
“Education unlocks every child’s potential, and the ARAL Program is our contribution to addressing learning gaps,” said Brown.
The ARAL Program also involves the local community by hiring residents as paid tutors and food vendors. This approach provides meaningful employment opportunities and supports students’ academic success.
Further emphasizing a holistic approach, the program incorporates nutrition and socio-emotional learning, addressing broader factors that influence student well-being and readiness to learn.
With funding from private sponsors and local government units, the program aims to launch in pilot schools, where success will be measured using Chalkboard’s assessment system, alongside tools provided by DepEd. Secretary Angara highlighted the initiative’s importance: “By working with the private sector, we can better serve Filipino learners and equip them for future success.”
This two-year program exemplifies a public-private model for educational reform, aiming to close learning gaps and lay the groundwork for sustainable, quality education in the country.
