Reading is a fundamental skill that underpins every aspect of a student’s learning and development. But in Bais, a quiet city in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines, Venus Marie Catubay, a 33-year-old grade school English teacher at Bais City South Central School who has been teaching for almost 10 years, has seen firsthand how various challenges can slow students’ reading progress.
“Many of our students struggled because they didn’t have enough opportunities to read aloud and get feedback,” she shared. “A lot of them were shy or afraid of making mistakes in front of others, and that affected their confidence and motivation. Without enough personalized support, their reading progress was slow.”
Catubay believes that strong reading skills are crucial for young learners, as they serve as the foundation for all other subjects. Without these skills, students often find it difficult to keep up and are more likely to fall behind.
In Bais, many schools are in remote villages, mountain areas, and even on islands. With limited access to technology, teachers often rely on time-consuming manual assessments—such as one-on-one sessions, written tests, and informal observations—to evaluate reading levels. These traditional methods can take two days (48 hours) and limit opportunities for more interactive and engaging lessons.
In addition, students often lack timely corrections when reading on their own. Mistakes go unaddressed, and many students feel pressured to read perfectly in front of their peers, leading to anxiety and a fear of failure. Without consistent feedback, it’s easy for students to remain stuck at lower reading levels.
“With large class sizes, it was difficult to assess every student’s progress in a timely manner,” said Catubay, who typically handles 30 students per class. “And sometimes, improvements could go unnoticed if I didn’t have a structured system to track their growth over time.”
While education in Bais continues to improve, schools still face challenges with limited learning resources, slow technology adoption, and overcrowded classrooms—all of which impact students’ learning, Catubay added. These challenges reflect a broader national concern: a recent report shows that Filipino students fall four to five years behind in literacy.
But in Bais, things are starting to change.
Catubay and fellow teachers in 60 other schools have begun using AI to conduct reading assessments and enhance the student learning experience. Since 2022, they have implemented Reading Progress, a free tool by Microsoft that helps teachers track and assess reading performance more efficiently.
With Reading Progress, teachers can upload reading passages from Word or PDF files or use sample texts recommended by the tool. Assignments can be tailored to students’ reading levels or interests, and learners are allowed multiple attempts. One of the tool’s key strengths is its accessibility: students can practice and record themselves reading at home or in school, without interruption.
Once submissions are in, teachers receive automated feedback. The tool analyzes reading pace and flags issues like mispronunciations, incorrect inflections, long pauses, and monotone delivery. These insights are then presented through the Education Insight dashboard, helping teachers make data-informed decisions.
“Before, I would spend nearly two days assessing one class. Now, with Reading Progress, assessments only take two hours,” said Catubay. “The clear metrics provided by the tool allow me to identify where each student needs support and help me plan the right intervention activities. The accurate assessment guided students’ progress and gave them the autonomy to practice at their own pace. And because the tool is accessible in multiple devices, students can keep learning, anytime and anywhere.”
Students, too, appreciate the tool’s immediate and objective feedback. Catubay noted that many of them are encouraged by seeing their growth over time, which keeps them more engaged and motivated.
“I remember a third-grader who initially struggled with proficiency and was hesitant to read aloud in class. Thanks to the tool’s feedback, he became more confident and motivated to practice. Within a few weeks, he was reading more fluently and participating actively in class discussions. His classmates even noticed the improvement, which gave him a huge boost in confidence,” she recalled.
The results have been clear: students previously categorized as non-readers or at frustration level improved their reading skills significantly, with many advancing to higher levels in just three months.
Since its rollout in 2022, Reading Progress has assessed 14,000 learners across 60 schools in Bais—41 elementary schools and 19 high schools. By automating assessments, teachers have cut the time spent from 16 hours to just two hours in class, freeing them to focus more on lesson planning and student support.
Nationally, Reading Progress is available to 27 million students and 950,000 teachers across the Department of Education (DepEd) system. DepEd plans to further expand its implementation, with pilot programs scheduled across divisions this academic year.
“I hope that Baisanon children continue to use Reading Progress, especially those who struggle with reading,” Catubay said. “I’m excited to see technology play a bigger role in helping students improve their comprehension, reflect on their progress, and grow into more thoughtful and curious readers.”
The success of Reading Progress in Bais City shows what’s possible when technology supports both students and teachers—and it’s only the beginning. As more schools across the country adopt AI-powered tools like Reading Progress, these innovations can help improve reading proficiency at scale and support the broader national goal of closing the literacy gap. Bais City’s story is a powerful reminder that when education and innovation come together, every classroom can help move the country forward—one student at a time.