Around 92,000 learners from various grade levels in public schools in Western Visayas will benefit from the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program by the Department of Education (DepEd), aimed at addressing learning gaps in Reading and Mathematics.

The remediation program covers Reading for incoming Grades 2 to 11; Mathematics for incoming Grades 2, 3 and 4; senior high school (SHS) remediation in English and Mathematics for incoming Grade 12; and summer academic remedial program (SARP) for all grade levels.

“The program aims to provide free, targeted tutoring and remediation, especially for those needing interventions, particularly those in the not proficient or frustration levels. They need the targeted intervention to cope with the next grade level,” DepEd Western Visayas information officer Hernani Escullar Jr. said in an interview on Friday.

Escullar said learners were identified based on the results of the end-of-school-year assessments.

The reading program was intended specifically for incoming Grades 2 to 4 learners identified as emerging and incoming Grades 5 to 11 learners at the “frustration level” in English.

The remediation in Mathematics is for incoming Grades 2 to 4 within the “not proficient” and “low proficient” levels.

The SHS remediation is for incoming Grade 12 learners with a “frustration level” in English and “not proficient” or “low proficient” in Mathematics.

“Our SARP is for all grade level learners who failed in one or two subjects,” Escullar said.

Escullar said they have tapped school staff to serve as tutors, with an ideal ratio of one tutor for every 10 learners.

The summer program commenced on May 6 and will end on June 2. Each learning area lasts for two hours per day. (PNA)