Portugal links AI literacy to lifelong digital skills strategy
A new strategy in Portugal combines AI literacy with digital skills to prepare citizens for the digital economy.
Portugal has linked Europe’s new digital education agenda with its national efforts to expand AI literacy and lifelong digital skills.
The government’s digital portal said digital education is becoming a strategic priority for both the EU and Portugal, as technology becomes more central to schools, work, public services and civic participation.
The update follows the annual event of the European Digital Education Hub, an initiative of the European Commission under the Digital Education Action Plan.
One focus was the new AI Literacy Framework, developed by the European Commission and the OECD with support from international experts.
The framework is designed for primary and secondary education and aims to help schools, teachers and policymakers integrate AI responsibly into learning environments.
It is structured around four areas: engaging with AI, creating with AI, managing AI, and designing and shaping AI.
Portugal said AI education should include personal data protection, critical thinking, the fight against misinformation and the ethical, safe and responsible use of AI tools.
The national agenda is linked to the Portugal Digital Strategy and the Digital Skills Pact, which aims to train 2.8 million people by 2030.
Planned measures include Community Digital Agents, mobile digital training units and a digital training wallet integrated into the Gov.pt app, with particular attention to vulnerable groups, rural areas and citizens aged 45 to 70 with lower education levels.
Why does it matter?
Portugal’s approach shows how AI literacy is becoming part of wider digital inclusion policy, not only school curricula. Linking the EU AI Literacy Framework with lifelong digital-skills programmes could help citizens use digital public services, participate more confidently online and understand AI-related risks such as privacy, misinformation and unsafe use. The strategy also reflects a broader European shift from basic digital skills towards continuous training across education, employment and public administration.
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