UNESCO has opened a global consultation on how education systems can govern artificial intelligence, releasing a new discussion paper and a series of background papers that lay out the risks of ungoverned AI use in schools. The consultation, running from September to November 2026, invites experts, academics, government officials, and other stakeholders to submit feedback that will shape policy briefs released during Digital Learning Week 2027.
The discussion paper, "Sustaining education as a common good in the age of AI: The case for deliberative governance," establishes education as a common good and identifies six directional shifts where that purpose is undermined when AI tools spread without governance. It serves as the normative foundation for six background papers, each commissioned to tackle the same core question: what does it take for an education system to exercise agency in the face of rapid AI diffusion?
The papers under review
Each background paper addresses a distinct governance challenge. "Digital and AI sovereignty: Four evidence-informed cases" examines how nations can maintain control over their educational technology infrastructure. "Is there a right age for AI in education?" explores age-appropriateness decisions. "Safe enough to scale?" proposes a decision system for learner safety.
Three additional papers focus on procurement, cost, and transparency. "AI procurement in education: The missing lever in AI governance" argues that purchasing processes are an overlooked governance mechanism. "Beyond the price tag: Rethinking total cost of ownership for AI in education systems" pushes education leaders to account for long-term infrastructure and training expenses. "The right to an explanation: Towards explainable AI in education" tackles the demand for transparency when algorithms affect student outcomes.
How the consultation works
UNESCO is asking contributors to address five specific questions as they review the papers. These cover how key concepts should be explained to policy audiences, how underlying policy problems should be framed, and what actionable recommendations suit diverse education contexts. Contributors are also asked to consider how the briefs should reflect UNESCO's principles - including human agency, equity, inclusion, safety, and ethics - and what evidence or country experiences could strengthen the analysis.
Feedback can be submitted to aied@unesco.org. The deadline for comments is 15 October 2026. The resulting compilation of policy briefs will be released during Digital Learning Week 2027.
Why this matters for education professionals
Many education systems face pressure to adopt AI without adequate regulatory frameworks or shared understanding of the risks. This consultation offers a direct channel for practitioners to influence the policy guidance that will shape procurement rules, safety standards, and age-appropriateness decisions in the years ahead. The papers provide a structured way to think through questions that are already landing on the desks of school leaders and ministry officials. For those building expertise in this area, resources like the AI Learning Path for Policy Makers and the broader AI for Education collection can help ground these governance debates in practical knowledge about how AI systems actually work.
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