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The European Commission announced on 5 November a plan to pilot an AI literacy c
The European Commission announced on 5 November a plan to pilot an AI literacy certificate for pupils aged around fifteen, with the scheme set to begin in the 2027/28 academic year. Developed in partnership with the OECD, the certificate aims to equip young people with skills to understand how AI systems work, critically assess their outputs, recognise manipulation, and judge when to disengage. The announcement accompanies a broader education package addressing teacher conditions and vocational training. Officials cited data from the PISA 2025 assessment showing roughly one in three fifteen-year-olds in EU member states falling below minimum benchmarks in reading and mathematics. Because education policy formally rests with individual governments rather than EU institutions, the certificate will serve as a voluntary common standard rather than a mandate. Eight member states are collaborating on secure digital tools for schools. As AI becomes part of everyday life, what do you think children most urgently need to understand about it?