DepEd rallies ASEAN partners to advance AI-driven digital education

The Department of Education (DepEd) is strengthening regional cooperation with Southeast Asian partners to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence–driven digital infrastructure in basic education, aiming to improve learning outcomes while reducing teachers’ administrative burden.

DepEd joined education leaders, digital policymakers, and development partners at the 3rd Regional Policy Convening of the AI Ready ASEAN Programme on Monday in Pasig City, where discussions focused on responsible and inclusive adoption of artificial intelligence in classrooms across the region.

The Philippines’ participation in the initiative is anchored in Project AGAP.AI, DepEd’s flagship program on artificial intelligence in education. Under the AI Ready ASEAN Program, nearly 796,000 Filipinos—including educators, learners, and other stakeholders—have completed training on the fundamentals of AI literacy.

Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said the country views digital transformation in education as a shared regional responsibility.

“The Philippines does not see the digital race as a solitary journey. We stand ready to walk alongside our ASEAN neighbors—sharing our insights, our resources, and our steadfast commitment,” Angara said in a message to participants. “Together, we can build a digitally empowered region where growth is shared and progress is collective.”

He added that digital initiatives must be rooted in the realities faced by learners and teachers. “A future-ready ASEAN cannot be built on guesswork or lofty rhetoric alone. It must be grounded in the lived realities of our people,” Angara said.

The event was held under the AI Ready ASEAN initiative of the ASEAN Foundation, with support from Google.org. The regional program aims to expand AI literacy and promote the ethical and responsible use of emerging technologies across all ASEAN member states.

For Filipino learners, DepEd said the collaboration is expected to result in more accessible digital learning tools, improved online and blended learning platforms, and data-driven interventions that help schools identify learning gaps earlier. These efforts are intended to make instruction more responsive to individual needs while ensuring technology use remains age-appropriate and inclusive.

Teachers are also expected to benefit from shared ASEAN policy frameworks that prioritize practical classroom support. DepEd officials said AI-enabled systems are being positioned to streamline administrative tasks, enhance lesson planning through smarter digital resources, and provide timely insights on student progress—allowing teachers to focus more on instruction and learner engagement.

The ASEAN Foundation, meanwhile, expressed its intent to align AI Ready ASEAN activities with the Philippines’ chairmanship of ASEAN in 2026, particularly in advancing digitalization in education and ensuring AI-driven initiatives reach diverse communities across the region.

DepEd said it will continue engaging regional partners to ensure that artificial intelligence in basic education strengthens, rather than replaces, the role of teachers, while equipping learners with the digital skills needed in a rapidly evolving world. —VBL, GMA Integrated News