Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Thursday underscored the growing role of artificial intelligence in improving learning outcomes, citing early results showing that AI can support practical, data-driven reforms in public schools without adding pressure on teachers or school administrators.

Speaking at the year-end event of the Education Center for Artificial Intelligence Research, Angara said the initiative was designed to address concrete system gaps rather than follow technology trends, noting that the Department of Education is among the first government agencies to establish a dedicated AI unit.

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

“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,” Angara added.

ECAIR was established to guide the cautious use of AI in education governance, focusing on improving data quality, decision-making, and operational efficiency. During its first year, the center piloted several projects targeting long-standing issues in leadership appointments, learner data management, and resource allocation.

One of these 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 accelerated leadership selection while applying clearer standards.

According to the department, 4,410 aspiring principals passed the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads in 2025, resulting in estimated savings of ₱5 million, with higher savings projected next year.

Another project, SIGLA (System for Intelligent Growth and Learner Anthropometry), addressed inconsistencies in learner health and anthropometric data. DepEd said the cleanup reduced the time teachers spend on manual data encoding from about 3.75 hours to 1.87 hours annually, allowing more time for classroom instruction.

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

Angara said DepEd deliberately adopted a measured approach to AI, noting that some education systems abroad rushed implementation and later encountered issues related to accountability and public trust.

He added that the next phase of ECAIR’s work will focus on expanding applications that have already shown results, while ensuring that technology remains a tool to improve education for people rather than complicate it.