DepEd preparing master plan for AI in schools

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is preparing a master plan to ensure teachers and learners are ready for the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, according to Education Secretary Sonny Angara.

In an interview with The STAR’s “Truth On The Line” last Monday, Angara said the AI master plan is part of President Marcos’ directive in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) to equip Filipinos with the skills needed for emerging technologies.

“We are in the process of really coming up with a master plan. The master plan involves all our teachers being conversant with AI. And once they’re conversant, they will be able to teach AI. So, as the President said in his SONA, 1.8 million of our students and the teachers have learned the basics of AI,” Angara said.

The DepEd is also tapping the private sector to strengthen the digital literacy of teachers and students.

According to Angara, private partners such as Khan Academy and Ayala Foundation will be providing advanced AI tools at lower costs or even for free.

“They gave us their AI for free for teachers. On the part of DepEd, we have to push our teachers to really utilize these free technologies. Otherwise, it’s a waste,” he said.

Acknowledging resistance from some teachers’ groups on the use of AI, Angara maintained that AI should be seen as a tool that supports, rather than replaces, educators.

“They don’t want to turn on the AI. Because when you turn on the AI, you’re monitoring the use of the teacher. And sometimes, the role of the teacher also has to evolve. Unlike before, where the teacher is like an oracle. It means that all the information, all the knowledge, passes through him,” he said.

“Now, the world is not like that anymore. Everything humanity knows is practically online already. So, the teacher is more of a facilitator or a gatekeeper,” he added. “They feel that they’re losing control in a way. But I don’t think they should see it that way. I think they should see it as a way that their life is being life-enhancing. These technologies are life-enhancing.”

ARAL funds

In a separate engagement, Angara has also asked Congress to allocate a separate budget to fund the compensation of DepEd teachers serving as tutors under the ARAL Program, citing the need for clear legal authority and corresponding budget cover.

In his letter to congressional education leaders, Angara said DepEd had studied possible compensation options, with initial estimates showing that a uniform-rate scheme would require around P4.307 billion, while a prime hourly teaching rate-based approach would require at least P7.266 billion.

He cited the vital role of teachers in implementing ARAL, which provides targeted learning recovery support to learners who need additional help in reading, mathematics and other foundational competencies.

Angara said that under Republic Act 12028, or the ARAL Law, and the Fiscal Year 2026 General Appropriations Act, compensation for DepEd teachers serving as ARAL tutors may only be provided in accordance with existing legal and budgetary provisions.

He added that it authorizes compensation for DepEd teachers in the form of overload pay after they have rendered the prescribed six hours of actual classroom teaching.

The FY 2026 budget also does not provide a separate appropriation for ARAL tutor compensation regardless of teaching load, apart from existing allocations for overload pay and the engagement of external tutors.

“The DepEd position is clear: we want to support and recognize the additional work of our teachers in the ARAL program. But we also need to comply with the law and the funds provided to us. We will provide compensation if there is a clear legal basis and sufficient budget for it,” Angara said.

He vowed to continue working with Congress, the Department of Budget and Management and other concerned agencies to strengthen ARAL implementation, ensure compliance with the law and the national budget.

“We will not abandon children who need extra help in learning, nor will we neglect the welfare of teachers who help them. What is needed is a sound policy, clear guidelines, and sufficient funding to make implementation sustainable and equitable,” he said.