MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara officially kicked off the 2026 Summer Remediation Programs (SRP) today, highlighting the “irreplaceable” role of teachers and tutors in rescuing the country’s struggling learners. Running from May 6 to June 2, the month-long initiative aims to pull millions of students up to grade-level proficiency before the next school year begins.
The program is a key pillar of the Marcos administration’s learning recovery roadmap, focusing heavily on bridging the persistent gaps in literacy and numeracy that have hindered Filipino students in recent years.
At the center of this summer’s efforts is the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program. Mandated under Republic Act 12028, ARAL provides structured, small-group interventions for approximately 2.7 million learners from Grades 2 to 11.
Secretary Angara emphasized that the program’s success hinges on a diverse network of educators, including:
- Public School Teachers: Providing veteran leadership and pedagogical expertise.
- Para-teachers and Pre-service Teachers: Gaining valuable field experience while supporting primary instructors.
- Community Volunteers: Including Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members and youth volunteers who act as “big brothers and sisters” to younger students.
“Every child who improves has a teacher or tutor who refused to give up on them,” Angara stated. “We recognize the sacrifice of our educators who are spending their summer ensuring no student is left behind.”
The launch comes on the heels of encouraging data from the previous school year. According to DepEd, intensive interventions have already helped 4.5 million learners improve their literacy and numeracy skills, effectively reducing the number of “struggling” students from 6.7 million down to 2.2 million.
Despite these gains, Angara warned that “stubborn gaps” remain, particularly in secondary-level mathematics and critical thinking. This summer’s curriculum has been specifically designed to target these “higher-order” skills through interactive and engaging sessions rather than traditional lectures.
To ensure the sustainability of the program, DepEd is rolling out increased support for its teaching force. This includes:
- Professional Mentorship: Master teachers are providing technical assistance and “fun-learning” strategies to younger tutors.
- Incentives: Participating educators are eligible for service credits and other professional recognitions.
- Holistic Care: The program also includes health screenings (vision and hearing) and meal programs for students to ensure they are physically ready to learn.
As the program rolls out across thousands of schools nationwide, Angara called on parents to be active partners. “The cooperation between the home and the school is the strongest foundation we can give our youth for a successful return to school this June,” he concluded.