In October 2024, the Conference of the Ministers of Education of the German Länder (Kultusministerkonferenz, KMK) adopted a Recommendation for Action on the use of artificial intelligence in school education processes. The recommendation addresses curriculum integration, teacher training, ethical considerations, and the responsible deployment of AI tools in classrooms. Germany’s decentralised education system means the recommendation is addressed to all 16 Länder, which each have autonomous authority over their school systems and are not legally bound by KMK recommendations.
The M.E.T.A. teacher training programme, developed to prepare teachers for classroom AI use, graduated its first cohort in October 2025, indicating active implementation activity in parts of the country. Germany’s broader AI education investment includes the DigitalPakt Schule (approximately €6 billion for school digital infrastructure) and the Elements of AI online course available to the public.
Who it affects: Teachers and students across Germany’s 16 Länder, to the extent each state chooses to implement the recommendation. Implementation will be uneven given the decentralised structure. The DigitalPakt Schule investment in digital infrastructure benefits schools nationwide.
What is notably missing: KMK recommendations are not legally binding; each Land decides independently whether and how to act on them. There is no federal law mandating AI literacy in schools. Deep regional divides persist, with urban and western German states implementing AI education significantly faster than many rural and eastern states. The recommendation does not define a minimum AI literacy standard or require teacher certification before classroom AI use.