EU Plans to Launch 'AI Literacy' Certificate for School Students by 2027

The European Union has officially announced the launch of work on a project aimed at creating an "AI literacy" certificate for 15-year-old schoolchildren, paving the way for its implementation starting in the 2027–2028 academic year to keep pace with the accelerating impact of this technology on the educational system.

Understanding Technology and Protection from Disinformation

Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Roxana Mînzatu, explained that this certificate "will help young students understand how AI works, verify the data it provides them, detect any attempts at manipulation, and realize when to stop using it."

This initiative coincides with the challenges faced by both teachers and students as AI tools make their way into classrooms. It also follows the latest data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA 2025), which recorded a continuous decline in basic skills, with nearly one in three 15-year-old students across the EU struggling with significant difficulties in reading and mathematics—a trend Brussels hopes to reverse by harnessing technology safely to support learning outcomes.

Supporting Education and Curbing Addictive Platforms

Although the European Commission lacks direct authority over education policies in member states, it supports initiatives exploring safe methods to integrate AI into curricula. At the same time, Brussels is pursuing legislation aimed at restricting teenagers' access to social media networks, which Mînzatu characterized as a complementary path that does not contradict technology literacy taught in schools.

The European official stressed that AI has the potential to enhance educational quality through tailored approaches, such as individual tutoring and personalized learning, emphasizing that these beneficial applications of AI are entirely distinct from algorithms engineered to capture attention and induce addiction on social media platforms.