July 01, 2025 – The Division of Schooling (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 advantage of the schooling ecosystem, aligning with Secretary Sonny Angara’s five-point schooling agenda.
Most not too long ago, on June 18, college students and academics gathered for “Learn and Lead: An AI-powered Literacy Day” at Ilugin Elementary Faculty 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 classes. Academics and schooling specialists showcased how the instruments personalize instruction and cut back administrative workload. Jessica Leaño, the college’s ICT coordinator, famous that the instruments helped ten struggling readers grow to be proficient and considerably lowered the time wanted to generate literacy stories.
The occasion was attended by key representatives from DepEd and different authorities places of work, 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 Schooling (EDCOM 2). All expressed robust assist for the initiative and its potential to rework 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 a regular 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 youngster can thrive in a quickly altering world.”
Assistant Secretary Carmela Oracion, who’s spearheading the literacy initiative, emphasised the far-reaching affect 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 aim 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 remodeling literacy throughout the nation.”
Dad and mom in attendance expressed robust appreciation for the Studying Progress initiative, noting that it empowers their youngsters to grow to be extra assured, impartial readers each at college and at dwelling, whereas additionally permitting households to play a extra lively and supportive function of their youngsters’s literacy growth.
In Cabanatuan, the READExcel pilot program was launched in three faculties—Macatbong Built-in Faculty, PG Crisostomo Built-in Faculty, and LD Renon Built-in Faculty. The initiative aimed to enhance studying proficiency and considerably lowered 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. Features have been attributed to constant studying follow, guardian assist, and using tutorial movies. Academics and fogeys noticed elevated confidence and motivation amongst learners.
In Bais Metropolis, academics have been utilizing Microsoft’s Studying Progress device to streamline studying assessments and higher assist college students. What beforehand took two full days to evaluate now takes simply two hours—releasing up time for lesson planning and customized assist. Greater than 14,000 learners throughout 60 faculties have benefited from the device, which allows college students to follow studying independently whereas giving academics real-time suggestions on fluency, pronunciation, and pacing. Venus Marie Catubay, an English trainer at Bais Metropolis South Central Faculty, shared how the device helped her determine particular areas for intervention and observe pupil development extra successfully.
Trying forward, the partnership goals to align Studying Progress with DepEd’s Nationwide Studying Program tied to the Philippine Casual Studying Stock (PHIL-IRI) targets. Along with trade companions, DepEd and Microsoft will work to scale this system to extra faculties nationwide and strengthen trainer capability via digital fluency and modern use of AI within the classroom.
“That is only the start,” mentioned Peter Maquera, Microsoft Philippines CEO. “By combining expertise with the fervour of Filipino educators, we are able to shut the literacy hole and empower each learner to succeed.”
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