EU to launch AI literacy certificates for students in 2027

Commission aims to improve AI understanding and safety

European Commission Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu stated that the certificate will help young pupils understand how artificial intelligence functions, evaluate its statements, and recognise manipulation. Mînzatu added: "Young people must understand AI’s possibilities and limitations, question its answers and know when not to use it".

The curriculum aims to teach students when to deactivate these systems. Improving AI literacy for both students and teachers, including an understanding of system risks, is intended to empower their ability to learn.

The Commission plans to include age-appropriate guidance on learning objectives and methods for teachers to assess student knowledge during the pilot. The Commission is calling for schools to identify learning difficulties earlier and provide extra tutoring to prevent students from falling behind.

PISA 2025 results show decline in basic skills

The latest PISA 2025 results show that roughly one-third of 15-year-olds in the Union are underachieving in literacy and mathematics.

EU countries have agreed to reduce the percentage of 15-year-olds below minimum proficiency in both reading and maths to under 15 per cent by 2030.

Education and Skills Package addresses teacher shortages

The package aims to address the decreasing attractiveness of the teaching profession alongside basic skills and AI integration.

The Commission wants governments to examine teacher pay, workload, and career prospects to improve recruitment and retention.

A new European agenda for teachers calls on Member States to improve working conditions, career paths, and continuous professional development to address staff shortages.

Initiatives for digital safety and school partnerships

The European School Alliances will launch in 2027 to create partnerships between schools in different countries, with a goal of establishing 100 new alliances per year.

The Commission's package also includes a Healthy Screens Pledge for 2027, which will provide schools and families with guidance on screen-time routines, limiting study distractions, and responding to harmful online content.

EU role in education policy and upcoming summit

Brussels backs initiatives to explore safe artificial intelligence integration in schools, although it does not dictate national education policies.

The Commission has proposed two non-binding recommendations regarding basic skills and the teaching profession, leaving implementation to individual governments.

These recommendations call on governments to prioritise investment in reading, maths, science, and digital literacy while supporting schools and teachers.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, "A stronger Europe starts with empowered young people," while noting the need to raise standards in core subjects and prepare children to use artificial intelligence safely.

The Commission will present the Education and Skills Package to the Education and Skills European Summit on 20 November 2026.

Balancing AI education with social media restrictions

The European Union is already backing efforts to safely deploy artificial intelligence to teach children.

Minzatu said artificial intelligence has the potential to enhance processes such as tutoring and personalised learning.

She stated these technological applications are unrelated to the addictive algorithms used by social media platforms.

At the same time, the European Union is advancing legislation to restrict young teenagers' access to social media.

Minzatu said this legislation does not conflict with the artificial intelligence literacy initiative.