Commission launches education and skills package to tackle the decline in basic skills, rapid digital change and teacher shortages

The European Commission today presents a new education and skills package, aimed at reversing the decline in basic skills, helping schools make artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies work for learning, and tackling teacher shortages. The package has four priorities: increasing the acquisition of basic skills, making use of digital and AI tools for education, strengthening the teaching profession, and improving the flexibility, strategy and connection of vocational education and training (VET) programmes. It also reflects the changing needs of the labour market, which education systems need to address better in order to protect Europe's competitiveness and democratic resilience. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "A stronger Europe starts with empowered young people. We are supporting our Member States to raise standards in literacy, maths, science, and in digital and civic education. At the same time, to give children the skills they need to navigate the AI environment safely. For this, the support of well-trained teachers is essential. Together, we will work to make sure future generations thrive." Basic skills Among the concrete initiatives, the Commission presented a Council recommendation on reversing the decline in basic skills. It proposes steering reforms and investment to raise basic skills achievement, giving schools and teachers the autonomy to act, strengthening evidence-based practices and improving support at school level. European Schools Alliances will bring together schools and school authorities from different Member States in long-term partnerships, aiming to improve pupils' outcomes in at least one basic skill, each with a measurable improvement plan. Erasmus+ is already preparing for the introduction of European Schools Alliances, with specific support for schools and school authorities from 2027, with the ambition of expanding to 100 alliances a year in the next multiannual financial framework. From 2027, a new EU network of advice and support services will connect national and regional services to strengthen practical support for schools on leadership, well-being, digital and AI readiness and cooperation with parents. In addition, 30 regional services will be launched with financial support from Erasmus+. Better and safer use of digital technologies for education On 3 November, the Commission established the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium for education (EDU-EDIC), at the request of eight founding Member States. EDU-EDIC will strengthen European technological sovereignty in education and pool resources and expertise to roll out digital and AI services in schools, enable secure data exchange between educational institutions and help European educational technology (EdTech) companies better serve schools across borders. The Commission will develop age-appropriate learning benchmarks and assessment guidelines for AI literacy, building on the EU-OECD AI Literacy Framework, and will pilot an AI literacy certificate for learners from the 2027/28 school year. In addition, building on the 2026 Communication on an EU approach to children's safety online, the Commission will propose a "European healthy screens commitment", giving schools, parents and pupils common tools and guidance on online safety, screen time and a healthy balance between online and offline life. A more attractive and better supported teaching profession The Commission also proposed a Council recommendation on the attractiveness of the teaching profession (the EU Teachers' Agenda). It asks Member States to tackle teacher shortages through attractive careers and working conditions, stronger initial training and professional development, and teacher autonomy in the use of AI. It also proposes closer European dialogue with representatives of the teaching profession, encouraging Member States to invite European education social partners and teacher representatives to take part in the High-Level Group on Education and Training. EU support will also come through modernised Teacher Academies 2.0, which from 2027 will target early-career teachers and school leaders. Stronger EU support for modernising vocational education and training VET plays a central role in equipping people with the skills needed in today's economy. It gives learners practical, job-ready skills in sectors with strong demand for workers, such as energy, manufacturing, healthcare, defence and construction. The European VET strategy will help learners gain skills that drive innovation and growth, through training in advanced technologies, and give them access to careers with long-term prospects. Key initiatives include a European Sectoral Training Accelerator, with a pilot starting in 2027 offering short, flexible training modules that VET providers can add to national programmes, developed with industry partners and offering common quality standards; business partnerships in VET for new training centres set up jointly by companies and VET institutions, which from 2028 will help businesses -- especially SMEs -- obtain skilled workers and roll out new technologies; and an EU mobility marketplace to help VET learners and apprentices find training abroad and to support companies and VET schools in organising quality exchange opportunities. Next steps The Council is invited to examine and adopt both Council recommendations. On 20 November, the Commission will host the 2026 European Education and Skills Summit to launch implementation of the package together with Member States, social partners, school networks, teacher organisations, EdTech companies and pupil representatives. Background The recent EU-level analysis of PISA 2025 results shows that 33.9% of 15-year-olds in Europe are low achievers in maths, 31.3% in reading and 25.9% in science. Excellence is also declining: in 2025, the share of top performers in the EU is 4.8% in reading, 6.4% in science and 6.8% in maths. The education and skills package is a key contribution to the Union of Skills and aims to support Member States in reaching the EU-wide targets for 2030, which include raising the share of top-performing 15-year-olds in reading, maths and science to at least 12%, reducing to below 15% the share of 15-year-olds who are low achievers in reading, maths and science and of eighth-graders (13-14 year olds) who are low achievers in computer and information literacy, and raising to at least 25% the share of 15-year-olds from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who perform well in at least one skill (reading, maths or science). The VET strategy builds on the framework set out in the Council Recommendation on vocational education and training. In the 2025 Herning Declaration, Member States already committed to modernising and strengthening their VET systems and adapting them to the demands of the future. These actions are also aligned with the Apply AI Strategy, which focuses on supporting AI adoption in key strategic industries and in the public sector, including education. More quotes Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, said: "One in three 15-year-olds in Europe struggles with reading and maths, and the trend is getting worse. This is not just an education issue: it is about democracy and competitiveness, about the very future of Europe. Education must become a top political priority everywhere. With this package, we are asking Member States to commit, and we commit to supporting them and working together. European Schools Alliances will help schools learn from each other, an EU Teachers' Agenda will help make teaching a profession people want to enter and stay in, and a VET strategy will make vocational training a first choice. Europe's future is built first of all in the classrooms." Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said: "With the creation of the EDIC for education, the Union takes a step towards technological sovereignty in a key sector. It will ensure our teachers and pupils have secure and trustworthy European digital infrastructure at their disposal, including AI tools and information management systems. European EdTech companies will also receive support, making sure the whole ecosystem benefits from the EDIC."