On Thursday 5 November 2026, the European Commission presented a new education and skills package aimed at improving learning outcomes, addressing teacher shortages and adapting education and training to technological developments and labour market needs.
The package focuses on four priorities, namely strengthening basic skills, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies into education, supporting the teaching profession and modernising vocational education and training (VET).
According to the latest European Union (EU) analysis of the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, 33.9% of fifteen-year-olds in the EU perform below the required level in mathematics, 31.3% in reading and 25.9% in science. The proportion of high-performing students has also declined.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "A stronger Europe starts with empowering young people." She emphasised the importance of improving literacy, mathematics, science, digital education and citizenship education, supported by well-trained teachers.
To improve basic skills, the Commission has proposed a Council recommendation calling for targeted reforms, investment, evidence-based teaching practices and stronger support for schools.
As part of these efforts, European School Alliances will establish long-term partnerships between schools and education authorities across Member States to improve learning outcomes. Erasmus+ will support the initiative from 2027, with the aim of establishing 100 alliances annually under the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
Further support will come through a new EU advisory network launching in 2027, which will connect national and regional services to assist schools with leadership, wellbeing, digital readiness and cooperation with parents. Erasmus+ will also provide funding for 30 regional services.
In the area of digital education, the Commission established the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium for Education (EDU-EDIC) on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at the request of eight founding Member States. The consortium aims to facilitate secure data exchange between educational institutions, provide reliable AI and digital services for schools and support European educational technology companies.
The Commission also plans to introduce age-appropriate AI literacy standards and pilot an AI literacy certificate from the 2027/2028 school year. A proposed European Healthy Screens Pledge will offer guidance to schools, parents and pupils on online safety, screen time and maintaining a healthy balance between online and offline activities.
To tackle teacher shortages, the Commission has proposed an EU Teachers' Agenda focused on improving working conditions, career opportunities, initial teacher training and professional development.
The Commission's vocational education and training (VET) strategy focuses on developing practical skills for sectors facing labour shortages, including energy, manufacturing, healthcare, defence and construction.
As part of the strategy, a European Sectoral Training Accelerator will launch a pilot programme in 2027, offering short, flexible training modules developed with industry partners. From 2028, partnerships between businesses and VET institutions will support new training centres and help companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), recruit skilled workers and adopt new technologies.
A European Mobility Marketplace will also help vocational students and apprentices find training opportunities abroad while supporting businesses and training institutions in organising exchanges.
The Commission said it will host the European Education and Skills Summit on Friday 20 November 2026 to launch the implementation of the package. The measures aim to support the EU's 2030 education targets, including reducing the proportion of underperforming fifteen-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science to below 15% and increasing the proportion of high-performing students in these subjects to at least 12%.
