Taiwan is stepping up its push to bring artificial intelligence into classrooms, with President Lai Ching-te highlighting a four-year NT$11.76 billion (US$369 million) AI Talents Ark Project aimed at strengthening AI education while giving teachers more support.
Lai announced the initiative while marking Teachers’ Day, using the occasion to thank educators and address challenges facing schools, including teacher shortages, communication with parents and growing administrative workloads.
The AI Talents Ark Project is designed to build stronger AI-learning environments in Taiwan’s primary and secondary schools. Its goals include improving teachers’ digital and AI teaching skills while helping students develop greater AI literacy.
The program covers several areas, including digital learning content, teaching support, educational big data, next-generation AI learning systems and AI-focused teacher education.
Under the digital-content component, authorities plan to expand learning materials, including content supported by generative AI, while increasing the availability of digital teaching software. Schools are also expected to continue receiving upgrades to devices and network infrastructure.
Teacher training will be another major part of the initiative. The government plans to provide training and on-site guidance to help educators integrate digital and AI tools into their classrooms. Regional and central support teams will also assist schools with technology-based teaching.
But Lai stressed that the technology is intended to support educators rather than replace them. He said teachers’ leadership and their relationship with students remain central to education, while AI can help make teaching more efficient.
The president also pledged continued support for teachers’ professional development, improvements to the teaching environment and efforts to reduce unnecessary administrative work.
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim also marked Teachers’ Day with a message recognizing educators. Her post featured teachers sharing meaningful moments from their careers alongside messages from students expressing appreciation.
Taiwan’s latest move places AI education, teacher training and digital infrastructure at the heart of its education strategy. The bigger question now is how the NT$11.76 billion program will reshape classrooms as AI becomes an increasingly important part of everyday learning.
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