Metro Manila, Philippines – Filipino teachers can now access free artificial intelligence training through a new Google initiative aimed at reducing administrative workloads, improving classroom instruction and helping educators integrate AI into their teaching.
Google Philippines announced Tuesday, Oct. 13, the launch of the Google AI Educator Series (GES), developed in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The program offers short, self-paced online modules lasting 15 to 45 minutes, allowing educators to learn practical AI skills at their own pace and earn digital badges upon completing training.
The initiative is designed to help teachers spend less time preparing documents and handling routine administrative tasks, giving them more opportunities to focus on classroom instruction and student engagement.
Among the tools featured are Google’s Gemini AI applications, which educators can use to organize lesson plans, draft communications, develop interactive learning activities and support student research.
The program also introduces Gemini’s Guided Learning feature, which helps students work through complex problems through step-by-step questioning, and Deep Research, which can assist in developing research and inquiry skills.
Google emphasized that AI should support teachers rather than replace them.
“We know that while AI is transforming both education and educators, technology is a tool that supports the physical and mental capacities of our teachers in their work,” said Google Philippines Country Manager Prep Palacios.
“It allows them to focus more on the important role of the actual teaching of their classes and subjects and strengthening human connections with their students,” she added.
Nationwide rollout through government agencies
The training program will be made available across basic education, higher education and technical-vocational institutions through partnerships with three government agencies.
For public school teachers, the Google AI Educator Series has been available through DepEd’s Bureau of Learning Delivery Hub since Sept. 28.
An upcoming joint circular will formally endorse the platform nationwide, with accreditation from the National Educators Academy of the Philippines expected to allow participating teachers to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit units required for professional license renewal.
Meanwhile, CHED will issue an advisory encouraging colleges and universities to consider the program as an optional professional development resource for faculty members.
TESDA has also integrated the modules into its free online learning platform, making the training accessible not only to educators but also to other Filipinos interested in developing AI skills.
DepEd: Less paperwork, more teaching
Education Secretary Sonny Angara welcomed the initiative, citing the heavy administrative workload faced by public school teachers.
“Our public school teachers carry a heavy workload every day, from crafting lesson plans to administrative reporting,” Angara said.
“Through our partnership with Google and the integration of the Google AI Educator Series GES into our enablement programs for teachers and staff, we are giving our teachers practical tools that lighten their administrative load,” he added.
Angara said the initiative could help teachers devote more time to instruction and mentoring instead of paperwork.
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis also emphasized the importance of responsible AI adoption in higher education, particularly in research and teaching.
“AI training should empower educators to reduce routine work, strengthen teaching and research, and create better learning experiences, while keeping mentorship, academic judgment, and human connection at the heart of higher education,” Agrupis said.
TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez, meanwhile, highlighted the importance of equipping technical-vocational trainers with emerging digital skills.
“Hosting the Google AI Educator Series on the e-TESDA platform means we are opening access to future-ready education to as many Filipinos as possible,” Benitez said.
Responsible AI use in classrooms
Beyond improving efficiency, the training program also covers responsible AI use, including data privacy, academic integrity and prompt engineering.
Google said the modules align with existing government policies on the ethical and human-centered integration of artificial intelligence in education.
These include DepEd’s foundational guidelines on AI in basic education, CHED’s policy on responsible AI adoption in higher education and TESDA’s initiatives supporting AI literacy and micro-credentials.
The program also builds on Google’s continuing initiative to train one million DepEd educators in digital and AI-related skills.
