With the goal of having the the program reach schools and students who need it most.
The Department of Education (DepEd), through its AI and innovativion lab Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR), is now using artificial intelligence (AI) to guide the deployment of PHP1-billion worth of Library Hubs in the country.
The center has developed a resource allocation tool that will identify school locations where students’ reading skills need to be improved, which will then be the basis for the construction of Library Hubs under the 2026 Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF).
DepEd Library Hubs serve as warehouse libraries that provide public schools with quick access to a vast collection of quality supplementary reading materials to increase the level of functional literacy in the country.
Through which, teachers can borrow bulk books and teaching materials for their students, usually with a grace period of 25 to 30 days.
“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,” noted Secretary Sonny Angara on the program that is part of the department’s 5-point agenda that aims to address literacy gaps in the country through evidence-based reforms.
Moreover, the project also looks to respond to the findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), which emphasized the need for equitable distribution of equipment and facilities.
Hence, the tool’s algorithm will make use of the analysis of national education and administrative datasets to identify qualified schools based on learning needs, expected utilization, and considerations of equity.
DepEd noted that this move is a departure from the traditional and often arbitrary allocation method, which has slowed literacy development in the regions in the past.
For Undersecretary for Learning Systems Strand Carmela Oracion, she noted how library hubs are critical platforms for building a reading culture in the country. “By working with ECAIR to incorporate data into planning and prioritization, we can ensure that our investments better support learners in our schools,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Erika Legara, ECAIR Managing Director and Chief AI and Data Officer, emphasized, “Education systems generate vast amounts of data, but the challenge is turning that data into actionable insights,” and noted that this technology ensures that large public investments will deliver maximum impact on learning.
In the future, ECAIR and BLR (Bureau of Learning Resources) are eyeing the further enhancement of the use of the said tool to also identify future investments in supplementary instructional materials for the greatest possible learning benefit.