THE DEPARTMENT of Education said it is accelerating long-term reforms to address the future demands of Philippine education.

This move comes after the Philippines ranked 74th out of 177 countries in the Global Education Futures Readiness Index, with a score of 56.32 out of 100.

“This places the Philippines in the category of ‘emerging and partial readiness,’ highlighting ongoing structural challenges in governance, innovation, infrastructure, and access to quality education,” DepEd noted.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the agency is working to build a future-ready education system through stakeholder-driven reforms and digital transformation.

“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,” Angara said.

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