Angara pushes sustainable AI solutions to bridge education system gaps

Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted the Department of Education’s (DepEd) push to integrate artificial intelligence into school operations, aiming to reduce administrative burdens and improve service delivery. The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s push for digital transformation, involving collaboration with the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. At the core of DepEd’s efforts is the Education Center for AI Research (Ecair), which develops tools to address systemic gaps in the education sector. Ecair Managing Director Erika Fille Legara emphasized the need to connect data, systems, and decision-makers to tackle inefficiencies affecting the 25 million learners across the country. Key projects include Project Dunong, which automates reporting and assessment processes for school heads, cutting paperwork to allow more focus on instructional leadership. Project Talino identifies infrastructure gaps like classroom shortages and electrification needs, guiding resource allocation where it is most critical. For learners, Project Sigla detects malnutrition early, while Project Sabay screens for reading and speech difficulties to enable timely classroom interventions. DepEd is also deploying Project Salikseek, a generative AI tool designed to provide faster access to verified data, supporting evidence-based planning and decision-making across the department.