DepEd uses AI to fix data, leadership gaps without adding burden on teachers — Angara

The Department of Education (DepEd) is using artificial intelligence to address long-standing problems in data management, school leadership appointments, and resource allocation, rather than introducing new classroom technologies that could add to teachers’ workload, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Friday.

Speaking at the year-end event of the Education Center for Artificial Intelligence Research (ECAIR), Angara said early results show how AI can support practical, data-driven reforms in the public school system, particularly in governance and decision-making.

“ECAIR is making DepEd a very efficient, a very data-driven organization,” Angara said. “ECAIR helps us make decisions more accurate, something that is long awaited being the biggest bureaucracy with the biggest budget, hopefully.”

Angara stressed that there has been a marked improvement in data quality within a year of ECAIR’s establishment, although he acknowledged that further work remains.

“If you look at the quality of data a year ago versus now, there is a marked improvement. But there is still a long way to go,” he said.

DepEd said ECAIR was created to guide the cautious and responsible use of AI in education governance, focusing on system gaps rather than technology trends.

The department noted that it is among the first government agencies to establish a dedicated AI research unit.

Faster school head appointments

One of ECAIR’s flagship initiatives, Project DUNONG (Dashboard for Understanding NASH Outcomes and National Grade-generation), uses data analytics to streamline the preparation and placement of school heads.

By consolidating fragmented records and identifying competency gaps, DepEd said it has been able to speed up leadership selection while applying clearer and more consistent standards.

In 2025, a total of 4,410 aspiring principals passed the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads, which DepEd said resulted in an estimated savings of about Php5 million, with higher savings projected in the coming year.

Less paperwork for teachers

Another initiative, Project SIGLA (System for Intelligent Growth and Learner Anthropometry), focused on correcting inconsistencies in learner health and anthropometric data.

DepEd said the data cleanup reduced the time teachers spend on manual data encoding from about 3.75 hours to 1.87 hours annually, allowing them to devote more time to teaching and learner support.

Better visibility of school needs

ECAIR also developed Project TALINO (Tracking Adoption Locations and Infrastructure Network Operations), which provides real-time visibility of school infrastructure and operational needs, enabling faster and more transparent resource allocation.

Angara noted that DepEd deliberately took a measured approach to AI adoption, noting that some education systems abroad rushed implementation and later faced issues related to accountability and public trust.

With increased funding proposed under the 2026 national budget, Angara said the next phase of ECAIR’s work will focus on expanding initiatives that have already shown results.

“Technology should improve how the system works for people, not complicate it,” Angara added. — BAP, GMA Integrated News