The European Commission, in cooperation with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), introduced in June 2026, the AI Literacy Framework for Primary and Secondary Education, a framework designed to support schools in equipping learners with the knowledge and competences they need to understand and use Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly.
The new framework serves as a reference point for teachers, school leaders, education policymakers and curriculum developers. It goes beyond the use of AI tools by promoting critical thinking, creativity and informed decision-making in an increasingly AI-enabled world.
The AI Literacy Framework is structured around four competence domains:
- Engage with AI – understanding how AI systems work and interacting with them responsibly.
- Create with AI – using AI creatively and effectively.
- Manage AI – evaluating, monitoring and using AI systems safely, responsibly and critically.
- Shape AI – understanding AI’s impact on society and contributing to shaping its future.
Overall, the framework identifies 19 core competences that can be progressively integrated across primary and secondary education, regardless of subject area. It is accompanied by practical examples and learning scenarios to support implementation in the classroom.
The framework places particular emphasis on issues such as the reliability of AI-generated information, the protection of personal data, transparency, algorithmic bias, ethics, and respect for intellectual property rights when using and creating content with AI tools.
The framework was developed through the joint efforts of the European Commission and the OECD, in collaboration with CodeAI, with contributions from teachers, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders from around the world. It is intended to provide a common reference for strengthening AI literacy and preparing learners for a future in which AI will play an increasingly important role in education, work and everyday life.
The full AI Literacy Framework for Primary and Secondary Education is available on the European Commission’s website here.