Microsoft, DepEd upskill 2,000 teachers
Microsoft and the Department of Education (DepEd) will train and credential 2,000 public school teachers in artificial intelligence literacy, as part of efforts to prepare classrooms for the safe and responsible use of AI.
The initiative, Microsoft Elevate for Educators, was launched alongside the AI Classroom Toolkit and Behind the Chat, a resource package designed to help teachers guide students on digital safety, privacy and responsible AI use.
Around 100 senior high school teachers attended a hands-on training session at Microsoft Philippines’ office in Makati. The Department of Information and Communications Technology and ChildFund Philippines also supported the initiative.
Microsoft Philippines managing director Caroline Foo said AI is changing how teachers design learning experiences and how students explore ideas, but stressed that young people must also develop the judgment to use the technology responsibly.
“But the future will demand more than knowing how to use new tools. It will require judgment, adaptability and a strong sense of responsibility,” Foo said.
Over the coming months, Microsoft and its training partner Audentes Technologies will provide instructor-led sessions and digital credentials to participating educators. The program includes two virtual sessions in November 2026 and eight live learning sessions from January to May 2027, with a recognition event planned for May.
The initiative builds on the partnership announced by DepEd and Microsoft in August, which will provide one million public school teachers access to Microsoft Copilot.
Ana Kristelle Garcia-Ortiz, director III of DepEd’s National Educators Academy of the Philippines, said the program supports efforts to prepare learners for the opportunities and responsibilities shaped by technology.
“Partnerships such as this can complement our efforts to build future-ready schools across the Philippines where innovation and learner wellbeing advance together,” she said.
Meanwhile, Behind the Chat uses fictional scenarios to encourage discussions about privacy, AI-guided decisions and emotional attachment.