The Philippines landed in the lower half of the Global Education Futures Readiness Index, ranking 74th out of 177 nations with a score of 56.32. This placed the country under the “emerging and partial readiness” category, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
Education Secretary Sonny Angara acknowledged the ranking as a reflection of the country’s ongoing hurdles in education governance, technological advancement, infrastructure, and equitable access to quality learning.
“We are trying to improve the system so that it will be better, innovative and more helpful to our teachers, parents and students. This is not easy but we need to start it and do it collectively,” Angara said, emphasizing a collective push for long-term reform.
To future-proof the education system, DepEd has launched the Education Center for Artificial Intelligence Research (ECAIR)—the first AI-focused initiative within the sector. This center is spearheading several tech-driven projects:
SIGLA, a mobile app for tracking learners’ growth;
TALINO, a geospatial tool encouraging private sector participation via the Adopt-a-School Program;
DUNONG, a dashboard that streamlines school leadership planning;
SALIKSeek, a chatbot enhancing data access for DepEd decision-makers;
SABAY and LIGTAS, tools in development for cognitive risk screening and school safety monitoring.
These initiatives are developed under a strict AI Governance Framework that aligns with global standards, ensuring ethical and responsible tech use.
DepEd is also rolling out Project Bukas, an open-data platform that will offer detailed information on school enrollment, resources, and student performance, aiming to boost community-level engagement and transparency.
Responding to labor market demands, the department has also restructured the Senior High School curriculum, working closely with TESDA, CHED, and DOLE to align education with industry needs.
