Good afternoon, dear parents and guardians!
Thank you for taking the time to be here today. Your presence shows
how committed you are to your children’s learning journey. I am here to talk
about something very important—Understanding Learning Gaps—and how
the ARAL Program of the Department of Education helps or address the
learning needs of our identified ARAL learners, which will commence this
August 26.
Over the past weeks, we conducted pre-assessments such as the CRLA
(Classroom Reading Level Assessment) intended for Grades 1-3 and the Phil-
IRI (Philippine Informal Reading Inventory) for Grades 4-6 and the RMA for
Numeracy Pre-assessment in K Stage 1 and K Stage 2.
From the results of pre-assessment, we identified three main areas where
many learners are struggling (those learners who had a reading profile of low
and high emerging readers and frustration level):
1. Reading comprehension – Some learners can read words but find it
hard to understand the meaning or the context that they have read.
2. Vocabulary and fluency – There are learners who read slowly or have
limited word knowledge, affecting their understanding of lessons.
3. Basic numeracy skills – Several students still struggle with basic
arithmetic and problem-solving.
These areas represent real challenges that our children face every day in
the classroom.
Why do these gaps matter so much?
Because learning is like building a house—if the foundation is weak, it
becomes harder to build the next floors. If a child struggles with reading
comprehension now, it will affect all the learning subjects to be taught. And
as to the numeracy (which to be implemented soon, the Aral-Mathematics) If
a child lacks number sense, they will find higher-level math more challenging
later on. Kinakailangan na matutunan talaga ng mga bata ang basic
operations of Mathematics as early as possilble also. Ano ba yung Basic
Operations of Mathematics?
These learning gaps, if left unaddressed, can lead to low confidence, poor
academic performance, and limited opportunities in the future.
How the ARAL Program Addresses the Gaps?
The ARAL Program—short for Academic Recovery and Accessible for
Learning—was designed precisely for this purpose.
It will:
1. Provide targeted interventions in reading and numeracy.
2. Use small-group or one-on-one sessions to give personalized attention
1 teacher tutor to 15 learners maximum numbers of Aral learners.
3. Integrate fun, engaging activities so learning becomes less
intimidating, the Deped gives learning materials to utilize during the
ARAL session.
4. Regularly monitor and assess progress so we can adjust teaching
strategies as needed.
In short, ARAL is not just extra classes—it’s a focused effort to help each
child catch up and move forward.
[Part 4 – Real-Life Example of Success]
Let me share a real story. In one school that piloted a similar reading
intervention program last year, a Grade 3 pupil who was reading at a
Grade 1 level improved dramatically in just four months. Through
consistent support, he went from struggling with short sentences to
confidently reading stories aloud to his classmates. His self-esteem
soared, and so did his performance in other subjects.
This is the kind of change we want to see here in our school through the
ARAL Program.
Parents, we can only make this work if we work together. Your role is vital
—encouraging your children at home, making sure they attend sessions,
and communicating with their teachers about their progress.
Together, let’s close these learning gaps, one child at a time. Because
when we bridge these gaps, we are not only improving grades—we are
opening doors to a brighter future. Thank you, and I look forward to
seeing how we can transform our children’s learning through the ARAL
Program.
