In a landmark initiative aimed at enhancing the quality of education in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with Chalkboard, a leading provider of tutoring services, to launch the Academic Remediation, Acceleration, and Livelihood (ARAL) Program. This program seeks to address the pressing challenges in literacy and numeracy faced by Filipino students, particularly in public schools.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on October 14 by DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and Chalkboard CEO Kristine E. Brown, bringing together the strengths of both the public and private sectors to promote improved educational outcomes for K-10 learners.
This partnership aligns with the government’s mandate to provide accessible, quality education as outlined in Republic Act 8525, otherwise known as the “Adopt-A-School Act of 1998,” which encourages private sector involvement in improving public education.
At the heart of the ARAL Program lies Chalkboard’s evidence-based curriculum grounded in the latest educational research and best practices.
The ARAL Program employs a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy to address learning deficits exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Developed by Chalkboard, the program offers up to 25 days of targeted tutoring over six weeks, delivered through both in-person and digital platforms.
The ARAL Program will be funded through partnerships with private sponsors, local government units, and other supporting entities.
This collaboration between DepEd and Chalkboard is seen as a model for future public-private partnerships in education with an eye at bridging current learning gaps.
