EU to Add AI and Civic Literacy to School Curricula by 2026

The European Commission announced a legislative package for 2026 that will make artificial‑intelligence literacy, critical thinking about disinformation and digital sovereignty core competences in school curricula across the 27 member states. The plan aims to modernise education by treating AI understanding on par with reading, writing and arithmetic, and to support teachers and less‑developed regions through targeted funding.

Separately, experts highlighted the broader importance of lifelong learning, noting that adult education—through formal, non‑formal and informal routes—helps citizens reskill for a rapidly digitising labour market, reduces social and digital exclusion, and supports economic productivity. Barriers such as limited time, funding and teacher shortages remain, underscoring the need for coordinated policy action alongside the EU’s school‑focused reforms.