The Department of Education (DepEd) and Microsoft are expanding their partnership to provide 1-million public school teachers with access to Microsoft Copilot as the country steps up the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education.

Copilot will help teachers prepare lessons and assessments, personalize learning and reduce administrative work.

“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,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

The initiative builds on an AI training program that has drawn more than 175,000 teacher registrations, with nearly 75,000 attending its flagship live session.

DepEd and Microsoft are also using Reading Progress and Reading Coach under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program to identify students’ reading difficulties.

A 21-week pilot involving 3,431 students across eight regions found that 780 reassessed learners showed reading progress. More than 2,100 teachers were also trained.

DepEd said AI tools are intended to assist teachers rather than replace their professional judgment.