UK Adds Fake News, Financial Literacy and AI Education to the Curriculum
The British government has announced a comprehensive reform package to modernize the national curriculum and align it with the needs of the 21st century. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated that the plan, designed to help young people “move confidently into the future,” aims to ensure that students build a strong foundation in reading, science, and mathematics while also acquiring essential life and work skills.
The new national curriculum will take effect in September 2028. Primary school students will now take lessons on identifying fake news and misinformation, financial awareness, and climate education, helping them develop critical thinking, media literacy, and money management skills from an early age.
The reform package also gives arts subjects equal status with the humanities and introduces an enrichment program offering all students opportunities to engage in areas such as citizenship, nature, sports, culture, and life skills. The government is also planning to introduce a new qualification program in data science and artificial intelligence for students aged 16 to 18. Phillipson emphasized that “from mastering the basics of reading to distinguishing fake news, these reforms will prepare our young people for a rapidly changing world.”