PALO, LEYTE — Highlighting national efforts to integrate modern technology into public basic education, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Education (DepEd) in Eastern Visayas signed a memorandum of agreement on Thursday for the pilot implementation of an AI-enhanced e-learning system. The project, titled Enhancing Teachers’ Unimpeded Rational Objectives Digital Learning System (e-TURO DLS), is a 12-month initiative funded through a PHP 2.3 million grant under DOST’s local Grants-in-Aid program.
Piloting AI-Driven Classroom Instruction in Tacloban and Samar
The pilot project will officially run from August 2026 to July 2027 across two selected public elementary schools in the region: the Sto. Niño SPED Center in Tacloban City and Guinsorongan Elementary School in Catbalogan City, Samar. Designed to initially support Grade 2 learners, the platform combines a comprehensive learning management system, a digital content library, and AI-assisted content creation tools to streamline teacher preparation and elevate classroom engagement.
Division of Roles and Technical Support
Under the agreement, DOST Eastern Visayas will provide essential hardware and technical infrastructure—including laptop computers, smart televisions, server support, internet connectivity, and capacity-building workshops. DepEd Region 8 will oversee classroom integration, align platform content with K–12 curriculum standards, and assign dedicated teachers, ICT coordinators, and administrators to manage daily system usage.
Rollout Timeline and Capacity Building
DOST Regional Director John Glenn Ocaña and DepEd Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez emphasized that the initiative reflects a shared commitment to narrowing the digital divide for young learners in Eastern Visayas. School orientations and technical training for participating educators are set to begin in September 2026, followed immediately by full classroom implementation through July 2027.
