Back to Books: Sweden’s Schools Revert to Traditional Learning

In a bold move, Sweden’s government is pushing for a return to traditional classroom tools like physical books, paper, and pens, aiming to address declining literacy rates among students. This shift has sparked debate, with critics from tech firms, educators, and scientists warning that it may affect pupils’ future job opportunities and challenge the nation’s economic growth.

Changing Classroom Dynamics

At Nacka High School, just outside Stockholm, final-year students are now removing laptops from their bags and reaching for textbooks. “I often leave school with new books and paper,” says Sophie, 18. She notes that a teacher has begun printing all lesson materials, and a digital math platform has been replaced with textbook-only instruction. This scene contrasts sharply with Sweden’s reputation as a tech-forward society, known for its digital literacy and vibrant startup ecosystem.

Since the late 2000s, digital devices became common in Swedish schools. By 2015, roughly 80% of municipal high school students had access to personal laptops or tablets. In 2019, the Social Democrat-led government even mandated tablet use in preschools to prepare young learners for a digital world. But the current right-wing coalition, which took power in 2022, has reversed this trend.

Policy Shift and Funding

Joar Forsell, a Liberal Party education spokesperson, explains the new direction: “We’re aiming to minimize screen time as much as possible.” He adds that older students may still use digital tools, but younger learners should avoid them entirely. The government has introduced the slogan “från skärm till pärm” – “from screen to binder” in English – to promote this transition.

As of 2025, preschools no longer require digital tools, and tablets are not distributed to children under two. A nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools, even for educational purposes, will also take effect later this year. To support this change, over 2.1 billion kronor in grants has been allocated to schools for printing textbooks and updating teacher resources. A new curriculum emphasizing paper-based learning is expected in 2028.

Expert Concerns

“There’s been growing recognition of how technology disrupts classroom focus,” says Dr. Sissela Nutley, a neuroscientist at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute. She highlights that children can lose attention when distracted by peers’ screen activity. Nutley also cites international studies suggesting digital reading may hinder information processing and that excessive screen time could influence brain development in younger students.

Forsell argues that traditional methods, such as writing on paper and counting with physical numbers, are more effective for knowledge retention. However, the move has raised questions about its impact on Sweden’s global educational standing. The OECD’s 2024 report noted that Swedish students, once top performers, have seen a drop in scores for reading and math since 2012, with a sharper decline in 2022. That year, nearly a quarter of 15- to 16-year-olds failed to meet basic reading comprehension standards.

The government hopes this return to analog methods will help restore Sweden’s position in the Pisa rankings. Despite still outperforming many OECD countries, the nation’s literacy levels have fallen behind the UK, US, Denmark, and Finland. With the new focus on physical materials, officials aim to create an environment that fosters deeper engagement with reading and writing skills.