BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

In the wake of the Philippines’ latest global ranking in education readiness, the Department of Education (DepEd) has reaffirmed its commitment to building a future-ready education system through stakeholder-driven reforms and digital transformation, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s national development agenda.

The country recently placed 74th out of 177 countries in the Global Education Futures Readiness Index (GEFRI), earning a score of 56.32 out of 100. This places the Philippines in the category of “emerging and partial readiness,” signaling ongoing structural challenges in governance, innovation, infrastructure, and access to quality education.

In response, DepEd, under the leadership of Secretary Sonny Angara, is accelerating long-term reforms designed to cater future demands.

“Pinapaganda natin ang sistema para maging mas maayos, mas makabago, at mas kapaki-pakinabang sa mga guro, magulang, at bata. Hindi ito madali, pero kailangang simulan at sabay-sabay nating gawin,” he said.

To prepare for future challenges and opportunities, DepEd has established the Education Center for Artificial Intelligence Research (ECAIR), a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Philippine education sector, to apply AI and data science in solving persistent issues in teaching, planning, and school management.

Among these are SIGLA, a mobile app for automating growth monitoring of learners; TALINO, a geospatial mapping tool to support private sector engagement through the Adopt-a-School Program; and DUNONG, a dashboard that processes school leadership exam data to support succession planning.

A chatbot system called SALIKSeek is also being refined to speed up access to internal data for DepEd decision-makers. Other tools like SABAY, which aims to support early cognitive risk screening, and LIGTAS, a geohazard tracking system for schools, are undergoing prototyping and controlled data development.

With the AI tools in various stages of development, DepEd emphasized that the projects are governed by an AI Governance Framework rooted in international standards, ensuring responsible, ethical, and transparent use of emerging technologies.

In basic education governance, DepEd is launching Project Bukas, an open data initiative that will publish 22 key datasets by August 2025. These cover school-level enrollment, resource inventory, and learning outcomes, empowering communities to monitor and support education services more effectively.

To align learning with the demands of the workforce, DepEd has also restructured the Senior High School (SHS) curriculum in coordination with TESDA, CHED, and DOLE. Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) qualifications are now being embedded into SHS programs. At the same time, reforms in government hiring policies now recognize SHS graduates as eligible for first-level civil service positions, expanding employment pathways for youth.

“Sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Pangulong Marcos, pinapatibay natin ang pundasyon ng edukasyon hindi lang para makaabot sa global standards kundi para makalikha ng mas makatao, makabago, at makatarungang kinabukasan para sa bawat batang Pilipino,” Angara said.

DepEd is also investing heavily in digital infrastructure. This includes PSIP Connect, a major initiative to deliver devices, solar energy, and satellite internet to underserved schools, and the Bayanihan SIM Program, which supports teachers and learners in connectivity-challenged areas.

The Department’s ongoing initiatives reflect a growing recognition that education transformation requires a whole-of-society approach, where parents, teachers, communities, the private sector, and development partners work hand in hand to prepare the Filipino learner for the fast-changing world.

*All Photos from DepEd