THE Teachers’ Dignity Coalition presented its position on the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program during a dialogue with Department of Education (DepEd) officials on October 14 at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, TechZone Building in Makati City. The group brought forward reports and testimonies from teachers directly involved in implementing the program in schools and communities.

Francia Murao, a TDC leader from Dasmariñas City, said teachers have raised serious concerns about the lack of support and the heavy burdens the program has placed on them.

“Teachers recognize the good intention behind ARAL, but in reality, it has become an added strain on our workload. Many of us are teaching beyond our load, without compensation, and often using our own money to produce learning materials,” Murao said.

Teachers also cited insufficient facilities, delayed materials, and unclear guidelines that have led to inconsistent implementation across schools. To address these issues, the TDC presented several recommendations for improving ARAL, including:

• Hiring dedicated ARAL tutors or engaging education majors as interns;
• Providing fair compensation and workload recognition for teachers handling ARAL;
• Ensuring adequate learning materials and teaching resources;
• Strictly enforcing the 1:15 tutor-to-student ratio;
• Improving planning and consistency across divisions; and
• Strengthening institutional support for teacher health, well-being, and work-life balance.

DepEd acknowledged these concerns, assuring that interventions are underway and that compensation will be provided.

“DepEd said there are interventions, but teachers are asking for concrete actions. Right now, ARAL seems ‘maka-bata pero hindi maka-guro.’ Teachers are willing to help children recover in learning, but the system must also care for those who make that recovery possible,” Murao added.

The TDC urged DepEd to refine the ARAL framework to ensure it remains both learner-centered and teacher-supportive, calling for a more transparent policy review process that includes consultation with teachers and school heads.