AI Tools Target School Disruptions, Education Access Gaps

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a critical tool in managing class disruptions and improving access to education subsidies, according to experts at a policy forum jointly organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the University of the Philippines (UP) on June 11.

The event, held through the Philippine APEC Study Center Network (PASCN), gathered over 80 technologists, researchers, and education leaders to examine AI’s real-world applications in education, especially during natural disasters and in addressing subsidy gaps.

“Without inclusive policies and programs, the AI revolution may exacerbate, not reduce, inequality,” said PIDS President Aniceto C. Orbeta Jr., emphasizing the need for cross-agency collaboration and sustained digital investments.

Two flagship projects under the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Education Center for AI Research (E-CAIR) program were highlighted during the forum.

“We are no longer asking if AI should be in education. We are asking how to use it responsibly to solve real problems,” said Dr. Sebastian Ibanez, Deputy Chief AI and Data Officer at E-CAIR.

E-CAIR serves as a national hub for AI research, staffed by data scientists and engineers focused on developing AI-powered solutions to improve learning systems and support DepEd’s five-point education reform agenda.

“If we get this right,” said Ibanez, “AI can help us leapfrog deep-rooted challenges—from disaster response to dropout rates—and create a more equitable future for learners.”

One key project, Learning Institution GeoHazard Tracking and Assessment for Safety (Project LIGTAS), integrates AI with satellite and meteorological data to forecast school vulnerability to natural hazards like floods, landslides, and extreme heat.

The platform also links environmental risks with academic metrics such as reading proficiency, enabling education officials to create data-informed strategies that maintain learning continuity during emergencies.

“We do not just predict. We pro-actively and strategically plan ahead of time, reducing the effects of hazards and ensuring that no student is left behind,” said Jose Marie Antonio Minoza, senior data scientist at E-CAIR.

The second initiative, Project PAARAL, uses AI-generated school graphs to analyze spatial accessibility and the financial adequacy of the Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Subsidy Program, which helps ease public school congestion by funding eligible students to attend private institutions.

These AI models map the distances between schools and visualize isolated areas where students are underserved, helping policymakers assess if existing subsidies match actual costs.

“We found that on average, students still need ₱20,000 out-of-pocket (spending) despite a ₱9,000 government subsidy,” said Sebastian Felipe Bundoc, an E-CAIR data scientist.

“This kind of insight helps policymakers rethink how we structure financial support,” he added, citing a case study showing regional subsidy disparities.

Incoming PIDS President Philip Arnold Tuaño emphasized that AI’s potential in education is no longer speculative.

“The message is clear—AI is not a distant technological promise, but a present reality with transformative potential for our education system,” Tuaño said.

UP President Angelo Jimenez urged stakeholders to prioritize ethics, privacy, and inclusion when deploying AI technologies.

“It is not just a question of how AI works but for whom it should work and to what ends—it must uplift rather than exclude; empower, rather than marginalize,” Jimenez said.

Organizers affirmed that continued dialogue among academic institutions, government agencies, and the tech sector is vital to ensure AI innovations serve the public good. (PIDS)