July 01, 2025 – The Division of Training (DepEd) and Microsoft proceed to deepen their collaboration to enhance literacy outcomes within the Philippines, leveraging synthetic intelligence (AI) instruments to empower educators and learners. This rising partnership displays a shared dedication to democratize AI for the collective good thing about the schooling ecosystem, aligning with Secretary Sonny Angara’s five-point schooling agenda.
Most just lately, on June 18, college students and academics gathered for “Learn and Lead: An AI-powered Literacy Day” at Ilugin Elementary College in Pasig Metropolis. The occasion featured dwell demonstrations of Studying Progress and Studying Coach, with college students from grades 4 to six collaborating in guided studying periods. Lecturers and schooling specialists showcased how the instruments personalize instruction and cut back administrative workload. Jessica Leaño, the varsity’s ICT coordinator, famous that the instruments helped ten struggling readers grow to be proficient and considerably diminished the time wanted to generate literacy experiences.
The occasion was attended by key representatives from DepEd and different authorities workplaces, together with Assistant Secretary Marcelino Veloso III, Assistant Secretary Carmela Oracion, and Congressman Roman Romulo, who’s the co-chair of the Second Congressional Fee on Training (EDCOM 2). All expressed sturdy help for the initiative and its potential to remodel literacy outcomes nationwide.
Assistant Secretary Veloso shared, “Studying has formed my journey—from regulation and ICT to public service. Aligned with the President’s name to make digitalization an ordinary in our faculties, we’re exploring instruments like Studying Progress that empower each learners and educators. Our dedication is obvious: scale what works, so each Filipino baby can thrive in a quickly altering world.”
Assistant Secretary Carmela Oracion, who’s spearheading the literacy initiative, emphasised the far-reaching impression of those efforts: “Literacy is the muse upon which all studying rests, and by harnessing AI-powered instruments, we equip our academics and college students with the assets they should thrive in a digital period. Our objective is to make sure that each learner, no matter background, has the chance to grow to be a assured reader and lifelong learner. Collaboration with companions like Microsoft is essential to realizing this imaginative and prescient and reworking literacy throughout the nation.”
Dad and mom in attendance expressed sturdy appreciation for the Studying Progress initiative, noting that it empowers their kids to grow to be extra assured, unbiased readers each in school and at residence, whereas additionally permitting households to play a extra lively and supportive position of their kids’s literacy improvement.
In Cabanatuan, the READExcel pilot program was launched in three faculties—Macatbong Built-in College, PG Crisostomo Built-in College, and LD Renon Built-in College. The initiative aimed to enhance studying proficiency and considerably diminished the variety of college students combating studying. Pre-test outcomes confirmed 14 college students within the struggling class, which dropped to zero after the intervention. Positive aspects have been attributed to constant studying apply, guardian help, and the usage of educational movies. Lecturers and fogeys noticed elevated confidence and motivation amongst learners.
In Bais Metropolis, academics have been utilizing Microsoft’s Studying Progress software to streamline studying assessments and higher help college students. What beforehand took two full days to evaluate now takes simply two hours—liberating up time for lesson planning and customized help. Greater than 14,000 learners throughout 60 faculties have benefited from the software, which allows college students to apply studying independently whereas giving academics real-time suggestions on fluency, pronunciation, and pacing. Venus Marie Catubay, an English instructor at Bais Metropolis South Central College, shared how the software helped her establish particular areas for intervention and monitor pupil development extra successfully.
Wanting forward, the partnership goals to align Studying Progress with DepEd’s Nationwide Studying Program tied to the Philippine Casual Studying Stock (PHIL-IRI) objectives. Along with trade companions, DepEd and Microsoft will work to scale this system to extra faculties nationwide and strengthen instructor capability by way of digital fluency and revolutionary use of AI within the classroom.
“That is only the start,” stated Peter Maquera, Microsoft Philippines CEO. “By combining expertise with the fervour of Filipino educators, we will shut the literacy hole and empower each learner to succeed.”
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