In brief
In a bid to combat declining literacy rates, Sweden's government has initiated a shift back to traditional learning methods, emphasizing textbooks and paper over digital tools. This move has sparked discussions about the potential implications for students' job preparedness in a rapidly digitizing economy. While proponents argue it supports better learning conditions, critics warn it risks leaving students underprepared for future careers.
Sweden's government is championing a renewed focus on physical books, paper and pens in classrooms, designed to reverse falling literacy levels.
But doubling down on analogue tools has drawn criticism from tech companies, educators and computer scientists, who argue it could impact pupils' employment prospects, and even damage the Nordic nation's economy.
At a high school in Nacka just outside Stockholm, final-year students are unpacking laptops from rucksacks and tote bags, alongside items they say they used less frequently a few years ago.
I now go home from school with new books and papers often, says Sophie, 18. She says one teacher has started printing all the texts that we use during the lesson, while a digital learning platform in maths lessons has been swapped out for textbook-only teaching.
It's an image that clashes with Sweden's reputation as one of Europe's most tech savvy societies, thanks to high levels of digital skills, and a thriving tech start-up scene.
The compulsory use of tablets in pre-schools was included in the curriculum in 2019, as part of the previous Social Democrat-led government's mission to prepare even the youngest children for an increasingly digital work and private life.
But the current right-wing coalition, which came to power in 2022, is moving teaching in a different direction.
We're trying, actually, to get rid of screens as much as possible, says Joar Forsell, an education spokesperson for the Liberal party whose leader is Sweden's education minister.
The government has frequently used the slogan från skärm till pärm, which sounds catchy in Swedish, and translates to from screen to binder. It argues that screen-free lessons create better conditions for children to concentrate and develop their writing and reading skills.
Since 2025, pre-schools are no longer required to use digital tools, and tablets aren't given to children under the age of two. Later this year a ban on mobiles in schools – even for educational use – comes into force.
However, the government's strategy has attracted criticism regarding its potential effects on student preparedness for a digital future.
A recent report from trade association Swedish Edtech Industry warns that a more analogue education risks pupils being underprepared for future jobs. Everybody needs digital basic skills in order to enter the workforce, argues Jannie Jeppesen, the association's CEO.
There are concerns that young people, especially from lower socio-economic backgrounds, may suffer from a digital divide if they are not introduced to digital skills early.
Despite varied opinions among students, the debate continues about the best educational approach for equipping future generations for a rapidly changing workforce.
