COMMITTED to addressing the challenges in digital learning and education technology, the Department of Education (DepEd), through the Information and Communications Technology Service (ICTS), reported the milestones of its Digital Rise Program during the 2022 World Book and Copyright Day Celebration.

“We have come a long way, and we have learned a lot from the pandemic, but the greatest takeaway from this past year is that we have to be willing, flexible and embrace technology,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones shared.

The Digital Rise Program, spearheaded by Undersecretary for Administration Alain del Pascua through the directives of Briones, is an educational framework that anchors to the infrastructure, software and capacity building of learners and teachers in technology.

According to the report presented by ICTS Director Abram Abanil, the Digital Rise Program has three major components. First of these components is the Digital Literacy, where the K to 12 curriculum is updated to include productivity tools like Word processing, spreadsheets and presentations for Grade 4 to Grade 6.

Grade 7 learners will have basic programming skills subject while

Grades 8 to 10 will have multimedia concepts as a subject focusing on video editing and graphics design. Lastly, vocational skills like computer servicing, technical drafting and broadband installation are assigned to senior high school students.

Through its second component, the ICT Assisted Teaching, DepEd aims to provide teachers with equipment, software content, and skills for their daily classroom teaching. The program also envisions providing laptops, smart TVs, and lapel speakers to each teacher and classroom.

Lastly, the ICT Assisted Learning for learners component of the program aims to grant access and adaptability through DepEd Learning Management System and synchronous blended learning.