Education Secretary Sonny Angarais rolling out a data-driven approach at the DepEd Philippines, using artificial intelligence to guide where a ₱1 billion reading program will be deployed so support reaches schools with the most urgent learning gaps.
DepEd said the AI-powered tool, developed by its Education Center for AI Research, analyzes national education and administrative data to identify which schools need support the most. The results will determine where the ₱1 billion budget for Library Hubs will be deployed, allowing resources to be directed with clearer basis.
“Data-driven policymaking is central to the education reforms we envision. Initiatives like this demonstrate how data science can help DepEd make smarter investments — ensuring that resources reach the schools and learners that need them the most,” Angara said.
The agency said AI will serve as a guide, with decisions still grounded in human oversight. DepEd has an existing policy requiring that all AI use in education remains human-centered, keeping teachers and learners at the core.
Library Hubs will function as centralized warehouse libraries where public school teachers can borrow supplementary reading materials in bulk for classroom use, usually for 25 to 30 days. This setup expands access to reading materials without requiring each school to maintain a full collection.
The program follows findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education, which flagged uneven distribution of learning resources nationwide. DepEd said the hubs are designed to respond to these gaps and support efforts to improve reading access.
Undersecretary Carmela Oracion said the hubs will help strengthen reading culture, while ECAIR Managing Director Dr. Erika Legara pointed to the importance of turning large volumes of education data into actionable insights.
DepEd said the system may also guide future investments in instructional materials as it works to improve learning outcomes nationwide.
