MANILA – Early results from the 2025-2026 Middle of School Year (MOSY) assessments show that the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program is yielding measurable improvements in student learning, with some of the country’s top-performing schools reporting 30-40% increases in reading proficiency.

Established under Republic Act No. 12028, the ARAL Program aims to address learning gaps among K-10 students in reading, math, and science, providing free, targeted interventions, tutorials, and resources to ensure learners recover from disruptions such as the pandemic. The program was a key initiative of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).

Data comparing Beginning of School Year (BOSY) results with MOSY assessments highlighted “Most Improved Schools” that successfully moved students from emerging or lower-level proficiency to grade-ready status.

In Grades 1-3 (Key Stage 1), Malanday Elementary School in Marikina City led the improvements, with students classified as “Developing, Transitioning, and Grade-Level Ready” rising from 57.26% at the start of the year to 94.03% by midyear, a 36.77% increase. Don Gregorio Evangelista Memorial School in Zamboanga City improved readiness by 19.06%, while Mamatid Elementary in Cabuyao City and Juan Sumulong Elementary in Antipolo City were also among the top performers.

For Grades 4-6 (Key Stage 2), Melencio M. Castelo Elementary School in Quezon City reached 100% in the “Total Grade-Ready + 2-Levels Down” category, improving roughly 30% from the beginning of the year.

In Grades 7-10 (Key Stage 3), San Jose National High School in Antipolo City improved its readiness metrics by 38.30%, moving from 61.70% to 100%, while Tanza National Comprehensive High School in Cavite posted a 42.85% increase.

“The initial analysis of the 2025-2026 MOSY assessments reveals a compelling story of resilience and progress in our public schools. It is encouraging to see schools not only improve but drive learner readiness in Key Stage 1 to over 94%. Their performance proves that with the right interventions, we can successfully bridge the gap from ’emerging’ to ‘grade-ready,’” said EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee.

The Department of Education (DepEd) reported overall reading readiness improvements of about five points in Grades 3-6, benefiting 3.42 million students, while Grades 7-10 showed gains of six to nine points, reaching 1.72 million learners. DepEd aims to expand coverage to 6.7 million students in SY 2026-2027, supported by over 440,000 tutors, both from DepEd and external volunteers.

The MOSY results underscore the effectiveness of targeted interventions and mark early wins for the ARAL Program, a flagship initiative championed by EDCOM 2 Commissioners Senator Win Gatchalian and Representative Roman Romulo, ahead of the release of EDCOM 2’s Final Report evaluating three years of education studies and policy recommendations.