The European Commission and the OECD released an AI Literacy Framework for primary and secondary education on 18 June 2026, setting out the competences students need to use artificial intelligence responsibly and ethically. The Framework gives teachers and education leaders a shared reference to integrate AI into classroom practice and supports the EU's drive for high-quality, future-oriented digital education.
Built around four domains-engage with AI, create with AI, manage AI, and shape AI-the Framework includes guidance and examples of activities for direct use in lessons. It was developed with support from CodeAI and international experts, and it aligns with the Union of Skills agenda, which will see an Education Package later this year to help education systems adapt to digital transformation.
Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, said: "AI literacy is a foundational competence for our young people. Understanding and using AI responsibly is essential for Europe's competitiveness, as well as for protecting our democracy and social cohesion, and it starts in our classrooms. With the launch of this Framework we are taking an important step to support AI literacy education across Europe."
What the four domains cover
- Engage with AI: Recognise and understand AI systems in everyday life.
- Create with AI: Use AI tools to design, solve problems, and express ideas.
- Manage AI: Operate and control AI applications, and understand their limitations.
- Shape AI: Critically evaluate and contribute to how AI affects society, ethics, and policy.
Putting the Framework into classroom practice
The Framework does not prescribe a single curriculum but offers a common language for schools across EU member states. Teachers can map existing digital skills activities onto the four domains or design new units that move step by step from basic recognition toward critical evaluation. For teachers seeking practical approaches, an AI Learning Path for Teachers provides methods to embed these competences in daily teaching without requiring deep technical knowledge.
Why this matters for educators
Teachers now have a policy-backed framework that defines exactly what AI literacy means for students. Instead of reacting to each new tool, schools can build coherent plans that develop transferable skills-like questioning AI outputs, managing data, and understanding ethical trade-offs-across subjects and year groups. The upcoming Education Package is expected to add support materials and teacher training links, making classroom implementation concrete rather than abstract.
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