AI, sustainability, and shared values

Classrooms of the future:

- RON F. JABAL

Classrooms of the future are no longer imagined as spaces filled only with chalkboards, rows of desks, and overworked teachers. They are envisioned as living ecosystems where technology, sustainability, and shared responsibility converge. In the Philippines, where the education system is strained by a shortage of more than 100,000 teachers and declining performance in global assessments, this vision is not just aspirational, it is urgent.

That vision is beginning to take shape in GabAI, the country’s first Al-powered teaching sidekick. Developed by Filipino startup Tagpros Education, GabAI is more than just a tool to lighten the load of teachers; it is a platform for reimagining how government, the private sector, and educators can work together to meet national development goals and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

When I spoke recently with Chris Manansala, CEO of Tagpros Education, he described GabAI not as a replacement for teachers but as their “sidekick”: a partner that automates routine tasks like lesson planning, assessments, and administrative work. By reducing burdens that eat up countless hours, GabAl allows teachers to do what they do best: mentor, inspire, and connect with students.

What struck me most in our conversation was Mr. Manansala’s insistence that GabAl is not merely an app but a movement. “Together, we can ensure that every Filipino teacher is empowered, every student is supported, and the Philippines leads in shaping the future of education,” he told me. That perspective situates GabAI firmly within the sustainability agenda linking educational reform to national resilience.

Education has always been the bedrock of development. The SDGs may span 17 goals, but without SDG 4: Quality Education, progress on poverty, health, gender equality, decent work, and even climate action becomes fragile.