DepEd launches public dashboard to boost educational transparency

The Department of Education (DepEd) has introduced the Paaralang Bukas Dashboard, a transparency portal designed to make school data more open, accessible, and actionable for Filipinos.

The new tool will give the public a clear view of school performance and needs, serving as a bridge between government education investments and the people’s participation in improving outcomes.

“Ang datos ng ating mga paralan ay dapat makita ng lahat, para sama-sama tayong makahanap ng solusyon at magbukas ng mas maraming oportunidad para sa kabataan,” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement after its launch in August 23.

Users can access school-level results for both public and private schools, such as the Early Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (ELLNA) and the National Achievement Tests (NAT) for School Year 2023-2024 through the dashboard.

It will also feature enrollment figures, facilities, utilities, maintenance spending, and other critical resources for all public schools.

DepEd undersecretary for strategic management Ronald Mendoza said the initiative strengthens the department’s commitment to transparent governance.

“The disclosure of information promotes accountability as reforms and investments of the government become open to the public for participation in monitoring and evaluation. This is also aligned with the Open Government Partnership’s mission, of which the Philippines is one of the founding members,” he said.

Mendoza also explained that resources and support can now be directed to schools that visibly need them, whether in facilities, teaching materials, or boosting performance in assessment tests.

“Through this dashboard, we intend to encourage not only transparency but collaboration among various stakeholders, reflecting our vision to be more responsive to the needs of the education sector, while building on foundations towards reform and global competitiveness,” he added.

The Open Government Partnership is a global multi-stakeholder initiative that champions transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in governments.