Align digital push with education reform – group

MANILA, Philippines — Consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines yesterday asked the government, telecommunications companies and education institutions to move in closer step with one another, saying the country’s digital infrastructure gains need a matching push to make the most of the new upper-middle-income status. In a statement, CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor and former representative Kit Belmonte said the country’s upper-middle-income classification is an encouraging marker of how the country has struggled with decades of stunted growth and an urgency to bring education to keep pace with the momentum of a digital economy. Belmonte underscored the need for a shared roadmap that treats connectivity and classroom readiness as complementing endeavors. “Government and industry have moved with real intent on infrastructure – fiber, 5G, data centers, AI-ready networks. That progress deserves recognition. The opportunity now is to bring education reform into that same rhythm, so the investment in connectivity and the investment in learning are advancing together rather than on separate timelines,” Belmonte said. He noted the need for teacher training programs to keep up with new tools, more devices to public schools to make the most of connectivity, and curriculum reviews at the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education. “Artificial intelligence sits right at the intersection of these priorities. AI-powered personalized learning, adaptive assessments, and intelligent tutoring systems are not future concepts; they are tools that can be deployed now to help teachers reach students at different paces and levels” Belmonte said. The Philippine economy has experienced robust growth in recent years, leading to its classification as an upper-middle-income country by the World Bank in 2022. This classification signifies a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita between $4,090 and $12,695. While this is a significant milestone in the nation's economic development, it also highlights the challenges in improving the living standards of its citizens, particularly in education and employment opportunities. Although investments in digital infrastructure are progressing, effective integration with the education system is crucial for its benefits to reach the entire population. The utilization of advanced technologies like AI holds the potential to enhance educational quality, but this requires upskilling teachers and ensuring equitable access for students.