EU unveils education package to tackle declining skills, teacher shortages

BRUSSELS, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Thursday unveiled an education and skills package to reverse declining achievement in basic skills, address teacher shortages and help schools use artificial intelligence (AI) safely.

The initiative comes as an EU analysis of PISA 2025 results shows that 33.9 percent of the bloc's 15-year-olds underachieve in mathematics, 31.3 percent in reading and 25.9 percent in science. The share of top performers has also declined.

The Commission proposed a Council recommendation urging member states to target reforms and investment at improving basic skills, strengthening school support and giving teachers greater autonomy.

European School Alliances will link schools across member states through long-term partnerships, each with a measurable plan to improve pupils' results in at least one basic skill.

Digital education measures include plans to pilot an AI Literacy Certificate from the 2027/28 school year. A proposed European Healthy Screens Pledge will offer guidance on online safety, screen time and balancing online and offline activities.

To tackle teacher shortages, a second proposed Council recommendation, the EU Teachers Agenda, calls for more attractive careers and working conditions, stronger initial teacher education and continuing professional development. It also stresses teachers' agency in deciding how AI is used in education.

Support will include revamped Teacher Academies 2.0, targeting novice teachers and school leaders from 2027. The Commission also proposed closer dialogue with the profession, encouraging member states to involve teachers' representatives and European education social partners in the EU's High-Level Group on Education and Training.

A vocational education strategy will support training in sectors with strong workforce demand, including energy, manufacturing, healthcare and construction.

Both proposed Council recommendations await adoption by the Council. The Commission will host an education and skills summit on Nov. 20 to launch implementation of the package.