The Department of Education (DepEd) and Microsoft are expanding their partnership to accelerate AI adoption in Philippine public schools, with Microsoft set to provide 1 million public school teachers access to Microsoft Copilot.
The initiative aims to help educators use AI for lesson planning, personalized learning, assessments, administrative tasks, and timely learner support while maintaining responsible-use safeguards and professional judgment.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the partnership is intended to help teachers save time, improve classroom engagement, support learning recovery, and prepare Filipino learners for an AI-driven future.
AI skilling expands nationwide
The initiative builds on a nationwide AI skilling program launched by DepEd and Microsoft earlier in 2026. The program trains teachers to use Microsoft Copilot Chat, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant, for practical classroom applications.
A flagship training event attracted nearly 75,000 live attendees, while registrations exceeded 175,000 educators. DepEd’s National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines subsequently expanded the program with asynchronous training for registered participants.
Training covers tasks such as creating curriculum-aligned lesson plans and assessments, drafting communications, and summarizing student progress. Teachers are also introduced to safeguards and responsible AI practices.
AI supports data-driven literacy interventions
Microsoft’s Reading Progress and Reading Coach are also being used under DepEd’s Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program to help teachers identify reading difficulties and intervene earlier.
During a 21-week pilot, the tools reached 3,431 students across eight regions, analyzed 8,381 reading submissions, and trained more than 2,100 teachers. Overall teacher satisfaction reached 91.5%.
Among students who were reassessed, 780 demonstrated reading progress, including 319 who moved between Phil-IRI reading bands and 461 who improved within their existing band.
DepEd and Microsoft said the renewed partnership builds on existing investments in internet connectivity, ICT equipment, smart classrooms, and devices for teachers. By adding AI capabilities to these digital foundations, the initiative seeks to reduce administrative workloads, strengthen teaching efficiency, improve learning recovery, and develop AI-ready skills among Filipino educators and students.
