THE Department of Education (DepEd) and Microsoft are expanding their partnership to provide 1 million Filipino public school teachers access to Microsoft Copilot as part of efforts to strengthen teaching and learning in the AI era.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the initiative would help teachers save time, engage learners and support learning recovery.
“Our learners deserve an education system that is ready for the future. Through our partnership with Microsoft, we are bringing AI tools to one million Filipino teachers to help them save time, engage learners better, and strengthen teaching in the classroom. More importantly, this partnership will help us support learning recovery and prepare every Filipino child for an AI-driven world,” Angara said.
The partnership builds on existing DepEd and Microsoft programs covering teacher development, foundational literacy and digital learning.
Earlier this year, the two organizations launched a nationwide AI skilling program to train teachers in the practical and responsible use of Microsoft Copilot Chat.
The program drew nearly 75,000 live attendees, while more than 175,000 educators registered for the training. The strong response prompted DepEd’s National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines to extend the program through asynchronous training for registered participants.
The training covers classroom applications such as drafting communications, developing curriculum-aligned lesson plans and assessments, and summarizing student progress. It also emphasizes safeguards and responsible use of AI as a teaching aid rather than a replacement for professional judgment.
DepEd and Microsoft are also using Reading Progress and Reading Coach under DepEd’s Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program to support literacy interventions.
Over 21 weeks, the pilot reached 3,431 students across eight regions, analyzed 8,381 reading submissions and trained more than 2,100 teachers. Overall teacher satisfaction was 91.5 percent.
Of the students reassessed during the period, 780 showed reading progress. Of these, 319 moved up between Phil-IRI bands while 461 improved within their existing band.
DepEd Undersecretary for Information and Communications Technology Marcelino Veloso III said technology could help teachers spend more time on instruction by reducing administrative work.
“Technology at its best serves a clear purpose. It helps us see more, respond faster, and use our time more wisely. When technology helps reduce administrative burden, it gives teachers more space to guide, encourage, and intervene in ways that are thoughtful and human,” Veloso said.
The renewed partnership also builds on DepEd’s investments in school internet connectivity, ICT equipment, smart classrooms, laptops and other devices for teachers.
Microsoft said providing Copilot access to public school teachers would help educators plan lessons, personalize learning, reduce administrative work and use timely insights to support students.
“At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. In the Philippines, there is no more important place to bring that mission to life than in education,” said Mayank Wadhwa, president of Microsoft Asean.
He said the partnership could help prepare Filipino learners for workplaces where AI will play a role across industries and careers.
