Sweden is reconsidering the role of digital technology in classrooms, moving towards a stronger emphasis on printed books and handwritten learning. The policy shift follows growing concern about declining reading comprehension and concentration among students. The change marks a significant departure from the country’s previous push toward digital education.
From screens to paper
In a secondary school in Nacka, just outside Stockholm, the classroom scene appears unusually traditional. Students sit with books, notebooks and printed materials rather than tablets or digital learning platforms.
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According to reporting by the BBC, this reflects a deliberate policy direction by the Swedish government, which is promoting the concept “from screen to paper” (“från skärm till pärm”). The aim is to strengthen reading skills and restore deeper concentration in the classroom.
Declining reading performance
The policy shift follows more than a decade of intensive digitalisation in Swedish schools. Since the late 2000s, laptops and tablets have been widely introduced as teaching tools, while by 2019 digital media had even become part of preschool education.
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However, learning outcomes have not met expectations. In the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Sweden recorded a noticeable decline in reading comprehension. In 2022, nearly one in four students failed to reach the basic reading proficiency level.
Government officials argue that excessive screen exposure may be a contributing factor. They maintain that reading on paper and writing by hand create stronger conditions for learning and information processing.
Policy measures in schools
The shift is already being implemented through concrete measures.
Authorities have removed the requirement to use digital tools in preschools and introduced limits on screen exposure for very young children. Tablets are discouraged for children under two years of age, and a ban on mobile phones in schools is under consideration, even when used for educational purposes.
The government has also committed more than two billion Swedish kronor to expand access to printed textbooks and learning materials. A revised national curriculum, expected to be fully implemented by 2028, will place greater emphasis on book-based learning.
Teachers in several schools have already begun abandoning certain digital platforms and returning to more traditional teaching methods.
Scientific debate continues
Part of the academic community supports the renewed focus on analogue learning. Some studies suggest that reading from screens makes information processing more difficult, while continuous digital stimulation may reduce attention spans.
At the same time, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development notes that the relationship between technology use and academic performance is complex. Excessive screen use is associated with weaker outcomes, but the complete absence of digital tools does not necessarily lead to better performance.
Reactions from technology sector
The policy has triggered criticism, particularly from the education technology sector. Representatives of the EdTech industry warn that limiting digital tools could leave students less prepared for a technology-driven labour market.
European projections suggest that around 90 percent of jobs will require some level of digital competence, raising concerns about whether a return to printed learning materials could create a new form of digital divide.
The debate also touches on Sweden’s broader economic model. The country is one of Europe’s leading startup hubs and home to global technology companies such as Spotify. Some observers worry that weakening digital skills in schools could affect the long-term strength of the innovation ecosystem.
Students themselves appear divided. Some acknowledge that screens can be distracting and make it harder to focus. Others argue that digital education remains essential in a society increasingly shaped by online environments.
Source: BBC