Poland Mandates AI Literacy in Schools Under Comprehensive Digital Education Plan

Poland's Ministry of Education (MEN), confirmed by Deputy Minister Katarzyna Lubnauer on January 5, 2026, is finalizing the framework for mandatory Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy instruction across all primary and secondary educational institutions. This nationwide integration is fundamentally aimed at proactively educating students on the potential risks associated with the rapid growth of AI technologies, with a specific emphasis on combating disinformation.

This strategic educational shift is part of the larger ZBADAI program, a joint effort between the MEN and the Copernicus Science Centre (CNK), which began in late 2025 and is scheduled for completion by June 2028. The ZBADAI initiative, officially launched in December 2025, is currently operating a pilot phase involving 200 schools, engaging 930 educators and approximately 13,000 students in focused research projects. Participating school units are required to establish dedicated teams of two teachers and at least 15 students, who will conduct semester-long research under the supervision of CNK specialists.

The project’s core objective is to equip educators with the pedagogical tools necessary to introduce AI concepts while simultaneously developing robust digital competence, fostering cognitive curiosity, and sharpening critical thinking against the backdrop of AI-generated content. A cornerstone of the rollout is mandatory teacher professional development, which includes a five-week moderated AI course delivered via the Integrated Educational Platform (ZPE). This training covers AI system fundamentals, prompt engineering methodology, data analysis, AI-assisted multimedia generation, practical classroom integration, and associated ethical and legal considerations.

Furthermore, participating teachers are developing new lesson scenarios during specialized workshops; these materials are designated for publication on the ZPE, potentially reaching over six million users after the project concludes. The ZPE is an established, free educational resource currently utilized by more than 5.2 million students and 800,000 teachers. This concentrated focus on practical AI skills aligns with the broader 'Compass of Tomorrow' educational reform, set to take effect in September 2026 with a new format for the 'Nature' subject in grades 4-6.

This infrastructure development is supported by mandates within the National Recovery Plan (KPO), which allocates funds to equip 12,000 schools with dedicated AI laboratories by the close of 2026. This investment, which began with a pilot in six schools and involves partners such as Intel, seeks to prepare youth for a technologically advanced workforce through AI PCs featuring Neural Processing Unit (NPU) technology for enhanced data privacy and efficiency. Deputy Minister Lubnauer has stressed the importance of teaching collaboration with AI, moving away from viewing its use as academic misconduct, as the ZBADAI program progresses toward its 2028 conclusion.