Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) is working to ensure Filipino students are equipped with strong reading, writing, and math skills while preparing them for a future in which artificial intelligence (AI) will be part of everyday life and work.
According to Philippines News Agency, Education Secretary Sonny Angara stated in a televised interview that DepEd's immediate priority is to improve the foundations of learning, even as it introduces students and teachers to AI. "The crucial thing is to orient all of our teachers. And the long-term goal is to have most, if not all, of our students really be conversant with artificial intelligence," he said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday urged Filipinos to embrace AI, noting that the Philippines must be ready for a future where all industries would be using AI. He mentioned that the government, through the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), has launched massive AI training for about 1.8 million individuals, including students, parents, and teachers, to ensure the global competitiveness of Filipinos across sectors.
Angara noted that while some students have used AI to complete assignments, the bigger challenge is helping learners and teachers understand how to use the technology responsibly as it becomes more common across different industries. However, he also stressed that technology cannot make up for weak learning fundamentals. "We're approaching it in at least two ways, meaning the foundation must be strengthened so the rest, the reading and the writing and the math and science foundations, will follow," Angara said.
He pointed to the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program, now in its second year, which provides tutorials to help struggling learners catch up and become ready for the next grade level. At the senior high school level, Angara said DepEd is giving students more flexibility in choosing subjects while expanding work immersion to better prepare them for college, employment, or entrepreneurship.
Investing in teachers is also a priority for the department. Angara highlighted that DepEd has allotted more time for teacher training by shifting from four academic terms to three, allowing educators to attend professional development programs without taking time away from classroom instruction. The department is also expanding online training, particularly in digital and information technology skills.
Beyond academics, Angara said DepEd is also paying closer attention to students' well-being. He emphasized efforts to reduce stress in schools by creating more peaceful zones and addressing the shortage of guidance counselors by hiring guidance counselor associates to provide additional support for learners.
To improve learning outcomes, Angara mentioned that DepEd is stepping up efforts to address functional illiteracy by funding reading projects in low-performing municipalities, increasing the supply of books in schools, and reviewing teaching methods. "We're trying to get more books in the hands of students and encouraging a culture of reading," he said, adding that the focus should shift from memorizing lessons to helping students actually understand and apply what they read.
