A REFORM BUILT ON SAND

Technology cannot fix a system that lacks its most fundamental pillars. Artificial intelligence (AI) may help us move forward, but it cannot undo years of failure in the educational foundation.

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara recently introduced plans to integrate AI into the education system, with projects aimed at “building systems that will last, improve over time, and directly support our classrooms.” While this may sound like a significant step forward for Philippine education, it risks becoming a distraction from the system’s crumbling foundation.

The department’s proposals include automating administrative tasks and streamlining data management. However, these measures may only produce faster reports on student performance without addressing the root causes of poor outcomes. Efficiency in reporting does not actually translate to improvement in learning.

According to DepEd data, as of 2025, the country still lacks 165,000 classrooms. This 2026, DepEd, together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), included the construction of 20,000 classrooms in their plans, but it has not yet been fully accomplished. Meanwhile, existing facilities are overcrowded and insufficient for a growing student population. Many schools lack basic materials such as textbooks, desks, and chairs. These are basic needs that must be addressed before any major software rollout.

Also, teachers remain overworked and underpaid. While AI systems may help manage certain tasks, they do not change the reality that educators are often burdened with responsibilities beyond what they are compensated for. In some cases, teachers resort to mass promotion to avoid conflict with superiors, and without proper handling, automation could risk reinforcing rather than resolving this issue.

Using AI to bridge these gaps is like relying on a GPS to navigate a road that has not yet been built. The software may show the destination, but the journey cannot begin without a paved road. We cannot move forward on a path that lacks a solid foundation.

This is not to say that AI has no place in education. It can support teachers, improve efficiency, and enhance certain aspects of learning. However, its impact will remain limited if the most basic needs of the system are unmet.

It is time to stop chasing global trends and start facing local truths. Until every Filipino student has access to proper facilities, materials, and support, integrating AI is not genuine progress but merely an illusion of improvement. We must value the dignity of the classroom more than the wonders of a machine

Editorial Cartoon by: Mary Fianza