The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has brought an artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced digital learning system to a Samar elementary school. It aims to give teachers the tools to prepare lessons and provide students access to learning materials even with limited or no internet connectivity.
DOST Eastern Visayas turned over 30 Chromebooks and a television to Guinsorongan Elementary School in Catbalogan City on Oct. 5, 2026, through its e-TURO initiative. The turnover coincided with World Teachers’ Day.
“This partnership demonstrates what we can achieve when government agencies work together toward one common goal: providing our learners with better opportunities to learn and our teachers with better tools to teach,” said Dr. Carmela Tamayo, schools division superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd)–Catbalogan City.
e-TURO, or Enhancing Teachers’ Unimpeded Rational Objectives, combines a learning management system, a digital content library, and AI-powered content creation tools. Teachers can use it to organize classroom materials, plan lessons, create content and assessments aligned with the curriculum, and track student progress.
The system also automates routine tasks, helping reduce manual work so teachers can spend more time on classroom instruction and respond to individual students’ learning needs.
Its offline capabilities address a problem for schools with unreliable internet service. Teachers and students can access digital learning resources without depending on a steady connection.
DOST-Eastern Visayas Regional Director John Glenn Ocaña said learning gaps in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics remain a concern in basic education. He noted that declining proficiency in foundational science and mathematics could affect the region’s future workforce.
e-TURO provides interactive digital modules and curriculum-aligned materials intended to support these subjects. Ocaña described the initiative as more than a hardware turnover, emphasizing its role in expanding access to STEM education.
Tamayo said technology should help overcome barriers to learning and create more opportunities for teachers and students.