DepEd releases guidelines for ARAL Program tutors; sets pay and service credit incentives
DepEd releases guidelines for ARAL Program tutors; sets pay and service credit incentives
The Department of Education (DepEd) has officially issued the guidelines for the engagement of tutors and support aides under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, establishing the framework for the government’s targeted learning recovery initiative.
In DepEd Memorandum No. 001, series of 2026, signed on January 8 by Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Atty. Fatima Lipp D. Panontongan, the agency outlined the qualifications, selection process, and compensation for personnel who will facilitate the program.
The ARAL Program, mandated by Republic Act No. 12028, aims to provide structured academic interventions for learners struggling in critical subjects, specifically Reading, Science, and Mathematics.
Priority for Teachers
According to the memorandum, the selection of tutors will prioritize existing DepEd teaching personnel, particularly those with a current teaching load of less than six hours.
The agency emphasized that specialization remains the primary consideration for assignment to ensure tutors can effectively handle the desired learning outcomes.
"In cases where their specialization does not align with the requirements of the ARAL Program, they may be assigned to provide support to the teacher's ancillary tasks," the memorandum stated.
Incentives and Compensation
To ensure the effective participation of educators, DepEd laid out specific remuneration and incentive packages for personnel serving as ARAL tutors.
Teachers whose total workload exceeds the prescribed six hours of actual classroom teaching due to tutorial sessions will be entitled to Teaching Overload Pay. This compensation is capped at two hours per day and is based on the Prime Hourly Teaching Rate, consistent with Department of Budget and Management (DBM) guidelines.
Furthermore, teachers who render services on weekends, holidays, or during extended vacations will be granted Vacation Service Credits (VSC). Notably, the memorandum specifies that service credits earned through the ARAL Program will be excluded from the standard 30-day annual limitation on allowable VSCs.
Both internal personnel and external tutors will receive a Certificate of Engagement upon completion of their service. DepEd noted that this certification can be used as evidence of relevant teaching experience for future hiring and promotion, subject to Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules.
Monitoring and Compliance
To maintain accountability, all tutors are required to submit a Daily Time Record (DTR) to verify the actual hours worked. They must also file a monthly Accomplishment Report detailing the learners served and the progress of the tutorial sessions.
The Schools Division Offices (SDOs) have been tasked with consolidating data on hired tutors, while Regional Offices (ROs) will oversee implementation and facilitate linkages with potential partners.
The ARAL Program is set to be implemented with strict monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure evidence-based decision-making and transparency in addressing the country's learning gaps.
Source:
No comments
Post a Comment