TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) thanked the nation's educators on Teachers’ Day on Sunday, pledging continued support to improve conditions while highlighting a new program to strengthen AI skills among teachers and students.
Lai said teachers face growing challenges, including teacher shortages, communication with parents, and administrative workloads. He pledged to keep listening to their concerns and provide the support they need to focus on teaching, per UDN.
Lai noted the launch of the four-year AI Talents Ark Project with a budget of NT$11.76 billion (US$369 million). The program aims to build AI learning environments in primary and secondary schools while strengthening teachers’ digital and AI teaching skills and AI literacy among students.
The project is organized around several areas, including developing digital learning content, strengthening digital teaching support, using educational big data, developing next-generation AI learning systems, and incorporating AI into teacher education.
Under the digital content component, the government plans to develop diverse learning materials, including generative AI-assisted educational content, while expanding digital teaching software for schools. The program also calls for continued upgrades to school devices and network infrastructure.
Teacher support is another major component. The ministry plans to provide training and on-site guidance to help teachers integrate digital and AI tools into classroom teaching. Regional and central support teams will assist schools and educators with digital teaching and technology-assisted learning.
Lai emphasized that technology can make teaching more efficient but said teachers’ leadership and companionship with students remain essential to education, per UDN.
“AI can assist teachers, but it can never replace teachers,” Lai said. He said the government would continue supporting teachers’ professional development, improving the teaching environment, and reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, according to a Presidential Office press release.
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) also posted a Teachers’ Day message on Facebook, wishing teachers well. Her post included videos of teachers discussing their most treasured moments in the profession, along with messages from students expressing appreciation for their teachers.
