The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued a clarification on the compensation of public school teachers who serve as tutors under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program.
The clarification, dated August 4, 2026, addresses questions about whether DepEd teachers assigned as ARAL tutors are automatically entitled to additional compensation and explains the forms of compensation currently authorized under the ARAL Program Act.
The clarification is particularly important as DepEd continues the implementation of the ARAL Program for School Year 2026–2027, following its implementation during SY 2025–2026 and the 2025 and 2026 ARAL Summer Programs.
What Is the ARAL Program?
The Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program is a learning recovery initiative established under Republic Act No. 12028, also known as the ARAL Program Act.
The program is designed to provide structured academic support to learners who need additional assistance in meeting grade-level learning expectations. It focuses on addressing learning gaps through targeted interventions and tutorial support.
DepEd's 2026 guidelines provide for the engagement of both DepEd teaching personnel and external tutors. The guidelines also emphasize that the specialization of teachers should be considered when assigning them as ARAL tutors.
With teachers taking on additional tutorial responsibilities, questions about compensation have become an important concern for schools and teachers.
Are DepEd Teachers Automatically Entitled to ARAL Tutor Pay?
No.
One of the most important points in the August 4, 2026 clarification is that Teaching Overload Pay is not automatically granted to every DepEd teacher who serves as an ARAL tutor.
Under Section 13 of the ARAL Program Act, compensation may be provided to qualified DepEd teachers serving as ARAL tutors in the form of Teaching Overload Pay.
However, certain conditions must first be met.
Teachers must have rendered the prescribed six hours of actual classroom teaching before they may qualify for Teaching Overload Pay for ARAL tutoring. The compensation is also subject to applicable Department of Budget and Management (DBM) rules.
The amount of Teaching Overload Pay may not exceed the equivalent of two hours based on the Prime Hourly Teaching Rate.
Therefore, being assigned as an ARAL tutor by itself does not mean that a teacher will automatically receive additional cash compensation.
When Can a DepEd Teacher Receive Teaching Overload Pay?
The key requirement is the completion of the prescribed regular classroom teaching load.
For qualified teachers, ARAL tutorial work may result in additional teaching load. Existing ARAL guidelines provide that ARAL tutorial classes are considered part of the teaching load of teachers assigned as tutors, with the corresponding load based on the actual hours rendered.
The 2026 guidelines also state that teachers with less than six hours of teaching load may be prioritized for assignment as ARAL tutors, provided they possess the required specialization or are otherwise qualified to handle ARAL classes.
This means schools need to properly determine a teacher's actual teaching load and tutorial hours before determining whether Teaching Overload Pay applies.
How Much Can ARAL Teaching Overload Pay Be?
Under the clarification, Teaching Overload Pay for qualified DepEd teachers is limited to compensation equivalent to up to two hours, based on the applicable Prime Hourly Teaching Rate.
This does not mean that every ARAL tutor will automatically receive two hours' worth of compensation.
The actual entitlement depends on the applicable rules, the teacher's qualifying circumstances, the actual teaching load rendered, and the existing DepEd and DBM guidelines.
Teachers should therefore avoid assuming that an ARAL assignment automatically translates into a fixed additional payment.
What Other Benefit May ARAL Teacher-Tutors Receive?
Aside from Teaching Overload Pay, Vacation Service Credits (VSC) may apply in appropriate circumstances under existing rules.
The August 4 clarification identifies these as the authorized forms of compensation or benefit for DepEd teachers serving as ARAL tutors:
- Teaching Overload Pay, if the teacher qualifies under the law and applicable guidelines; or
- Vacation Service Credits (VSC), where applicable under existing rules.
The clarification is significant because it states that no other form of compensation is currently authorized for DepEd teachers serving as ARAL tutors under the cited provisions.
Earlier ARAL implementation materials likewise distinguish between Teaching Overload Pay for qualified teacher-tutors and Vacation Service Credits for applicable services rendered during periods covered by the relevant rules.
What About ARAL Tutors Who Are Not DepEd Teachers?
External tutors follow a separate compensation arrangement.
Unlike DepEd teachers, who may receive Teaching Overload Pay or applicable VSC, external tutors are compensated based on the approved daily rate or the actual services rendered, subject to the applicable provisions of the law and program guidelines.
The 2026 ARAL tutor guidelines provide separate mechanisms for engaging external applicants and DepEd teaching personnel.
This distinction is important because the compensation rules for external tutors should not simply be applied to public school teachers who are assigned as ARAL tutors.
Is There a Separate ARAL Budget for Additional Teacher Compensation?
According to the August 4 clarification, the FY 2025 and FY 2026 General Appropriations Acts do not provide a separate appropriation for additional compensation for DepEd teachers serving as ARAL tutors beyond the authorized Teaching Overload Pay allocation and the engagement of external tutors.
DepEd explained that it has consistently applied these provisions since the implementation of the ARAL Program in SY 2025–2026, including the 2025 and 2026 ARAL Summer Programs.
The same approach will continue for the implementation of the ARAL Program in SY 2026–2027.
This means schools and concerned officials are expected to use appropriated funds only for purposes authorized under the applicable laws, budget provisions, and implementing guidelines.
What Should Teachers Assigned as ARAL Tutors Remember?
Teachers serving as ARAL tutors should keep several points in mind.
First, ARAL tutoring is an official program responsibility, but the assignment alone does not guarantee additional cash compensation.
Second, teachers should know their actual classroom teaching load and the number of hours they render as ARAL tutors.
Third, Teaching Overload Pay is subject to the conditions established under the ARAL Program Act and related DepEd and DBM rules.
Fourth, VSC may apply in circumstances covered by existing policies.
Finally, teachers should maintain proper documentation of their services. The 2026 ARAL tutor guidelines require tutors to maintain a Daily Time Record, which is verified by the assigned ARAL focal person or school head. Tutors are also required to submit accomplishment reports documenting learners served, tutorial sessions conducted, and learner progress or feedback.
What Does This Mean for SY 2026–2027?
For teachers and school administrators preparing for the continued implementation of ARAL in SY 2026–2027, the latest clarification provides a clearer basis for handling tutor compensation.
The main takeaway is simple: qualified DepEd teacher-tutors may receive Teaching Overload Pay when the requirements are met, while VSC may apply where allowed by existing rules.
However, teachers should not expect an automatic additional payment simply because they have been assigned to ARAL tutoring.
School heads, ARAL focal persons, Schools Division Offices, and other concerned officials are expected to ensure that the program is implemented consistently with RA No. 12028, the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act, and applicable DepEd implementing rules and guidelines.
Final Takeaway for DepEd Teachers
The August 4, 2026 clarification helps address an important question for public school teachers participating in the ARAL Program.
Teaching Overload Pay is available only to qualified DepEd teacher-tutors who meet the prescribed conditions. It is not an automatic benefit for every teacher assigned as an ARAL tutor.
For qualified teachers, compensation may be limited to the equivalent of up to two hours based on the Prime Hourly Teaching Rate, subject to applicable rules. Where appropriate, Vacation Service Credits may also apply.
Teachers assigned to ARAL should therefore check their actual teaching load, document their tutorial services, and coordinate with their school head or ARAL focal person regarding the applicable compensation or service-credit arrangements.
As the ARAL Program continues into SY 2026–2027, proper documentation and consistent application of the rules will remain important in ensuring that both learner recovery efforts and teacher entitlements are properly supported.
Reference: Department of Education clarification dated August 4, 2026, titled Clarification on the Compensation of DepEd Teachers Serving as ARAL Tutors, together with the applicable provisions of RA No. 12028 and DepEd's ARAL implementation guidelines.