Locally developed digital tools such as i-SULAT, a handwriting assessment system supported by the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), are emerging as potential aids for early screening of handwriting difficulties among Filipino children.
i-SULAT, developed by researchers from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), uses a multisensor pen and intelligent software to capture handwriting features such as speed, pressure, and stroke movement. The system converts these inputs into measurable data, according to DOST-PCHRD.
The agency says i-SULAT is designed to support early childhood handwriting evaluation using locally generated normative data, rather than relying solely on foreign benchmarks.
International research consistently shows that handwriting difficulties are common in childhood and can affect learning and participation in school. The development of tools like i-SULAT comes as the Philippines works to strengthen early childhood systems while continuing to face shortages in specialist services and early education infrastructure.
A Philippine-built tool backed by public research
According to DOST-PCHRD’s official project profile, i-SULAT stands for Intelligent Stroke Utilization, Learning, Assessment, and Testing. The system aims to provide a more objective and standardized way of assessing handwriting among children.
The tool uses a multisensor pen to record stroke-level data, including pressure and movement dynamics. Software then analyzes these data to identify handwriting patterns. DOST-PCHRD says the project seeks to build a normative database of Filipino school-aged children’s handwriting, allowing comparisons grounded in local developmental contexts.
The project has received sustained public backing. In 2022, the Philippine News Agency reported that DOST-PCHRD funded the development of i-SULAT as a university-led initiative to create a unified handwriting assessment system.
UST separately reported that DOST allotted ₱3.2 million for the project and named Engr. Edison A. Roxas, then chair of the UST Electronics Engineering Department, as project leader. According to the university, the project integrates engineering, education, and rehabilitation science to support early handwriting evaluation.
Technically, the tool remains under development. A DOST-PCHRD technology brief published in 2025 places i-SULAT at Technology Readiness Level 5, meaning the team has developed a working prototype and completed sensor calibration and alpha-stage testing. DOST-PCHRD says the researchers are preparing for broader data collection and validation with schools and health professionals.
Why handwriting is more than a classroom skill
Handwriting may appear to be a basic academic task, but research shows it is a complex activity involving fine motor coordination, visual-motor integration, attention, and planning.
A 2023 peer-reviewed review published in the journal Children describes handwriting as a skill shaped by both motor and cognitive processes. The review reports that about 30% of typically developing children experience difficulty learning handwriting, while roughly 10% have persistent and significant challenges. According to the authors, these difficulties can affect academic output, confidence, and classroom participation.
International research increasingly treats handwriting as a measurable signal that can support early screening and monitoring.
A 2025 study published in JMIR Aging examined quantitative handwriting analysis as a non-invasive approach to screening mild cognitive impairment. While focused on adults, the study reflects a broader research direction that views digitized handwriting as a source of fine-grained motor and cognitive data.
Similarly, a 2025 study indexed in PubMed examined links between handwriting fluency, kinematic parameters, and traits associated with developmental coordination disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder in children. The authors stressed that handwriting analysis is not diagnostic on its own but may help flag patterns that warrant closer assessment.
Access gaps and the appeal of standardized screening
In the Philippine context, the appeal of tools such as i-SULAT is closely tied to access constraints. Occupational therapists play a key role in handwriting assessment and intervention, yet specialist availability remains limited.
A 2018 mixed-methods study published in The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy described a shortage of occupational therapists in the Philippines. The study cited an approximate ratio of one occupational therapist per 30,000 stakeholders, highlighting how thinly spread services can be, especially outside urban centers.
Against this backdrop, DOST-PCHRD has framed i-SULAT as a support tool in areas with limited access to specialist assessment. In a 2025 feature on digital health innovations, the agency said standardized tools like i-SULAT could aid early identification and monitoring of handwriting difficulties, particularly in underserved communities.
DOST-PCHRD also emphasizes that the system is intended to complement, not replace, professional judgment and existing assessment pathways.
Policy context: stronger laws, persistent bottlenecks
The push for earlier assessment aligns with recent reforms in early childhood governance.
On May 8, 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12199, also known as the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act. The law repealed the 2013 Early Years Act and strengthened the ECCD system, according to its published text. Government releases state that the law aims to improve coordination and service delivery for children from birth through early elementary years.
At the same time, research highlights persistent capacity gaps. A 2025 Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) news summary reported a shortage of about 33,000 daycare centers, compared with an estimated national need of 96,000. PIDS has also cited shortages in child development workers and uneven access to early childhood services.
While policy frameworks are strengthening, implementation gaps remain significant.
Global evidence, local limits
International evidence suggests digitized handwriting analysis can improve consistency in assessment and enable progress tracking over time. Researchers consistently caution against overinterpretation.
Both the Children review and the JMIR Aging study emphasize that handwriting metrics should serve as screening signals rather than standalone diagnostic tools. Responsible use requires careful validation, professional interpretation, and clear referral pathways.
DOST-PCHRD’s documentation reflects this caution. The agency notes that i-SULAT requires further validation across age groups and settings, and that partnerships with schools, occupational therapists, and health professionals remain essential. Data privacy, informed consent, and proper training also matter when tools collect detailed data from children.
i-SULAT does not aim to replace human judgment. Instead, it seeks to narrow the gap between early signs and early support.
According to DOST-PCHRD, the system was designed to make handwriting assessment more objective and locally grounded. Global research shows handwriting difficulties are common and that digitized handwriting data can serve as useful screening signals when interpreted responsibly.
Meanwhile, Philippine policy reforms under the ECCD law acknowledge the importance of early intervention, even as PIDS research continues to point to shortages that limit follow-through.
Technology can sharpen observation and standardize screening, but it cannot replace trained professionals or compensate for weak systems. Whether i-SULAT’s data lead to timely, humane action—helping children receive support early, before handwriting difficulties quietly become barriers to learning—will ultimately define its success.
Photo by Kit (formerly ConvertKit) on Unsplash
References
Asselborn, T., et al. (2025). Handwriting kinematics and neurodevelopmental traits in children. PubMed ID: 40829511
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40829511/
Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD). i-SULAT: Intelligent Stroke Utilization, Learning, Assessment and Testing for Early Childhood Handwriting Evaluation.
https://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/heartnovation/isulat-intelligent-stroke-utilization-learning-assessment-and-testing-for-early-childhood-handwriting-evaluation/
DOST-PCHRD. i-SULAT Technology Brief (2025).
https://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/iSULAT.pdf
Feder, K., & Majnemer, A. (2023). Handwriting difficulties in children: A review. Children, 10(7), 1096.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10378357/
Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). PH faces shortage of 33,000 daycare centers – study.
https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/news/in-the-news/phl-faces-shortage-of-33k-daycare-centers-study
Philippine News Agency (PNA).
DOST funds handwriting assessment system for children.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169597
Plamondon, R., et al. (2025). Quantitative handwriting analysis as a noninvasive tool for mild cognitive impairment screening. JMIR Aging.
https://aging.jmir.org/2025/1/e73074/
Republic of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 12199 – Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act.
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2025/ra_12199_2025.html
Roldan, G., et al. (2018). Occupational therapy practice in the Philippines. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 6(4).
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/ojot/vol6/iss4/7/
University of Santo Tomas.
DOST budgets ₱3.2 million for i-SULAT, a university-headed project.
https://www.ust.edu.ph/dost-budgets-p3-2-million-for-isulat-a-university-headed-project/
