Sweden is reversing parts of its push towards digital learning, bringing printed textbooks, handwriting and traditional reading practices back into classrooms following concerns over students’ reading skills and screen use.

The country has allocated nearly 2.1 billion Swedish kronor (SEK) between 2023 and 2025 to provide printed textbooks and teacher guides, as part of efforts to strengthen foundational learning.

The policy shift follows concerns over declining reading performance among schoolchildren. Sweden’s fourth-grade reading score in the international Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) fell from 555 in 2016 to 544 in 2021.

Educators and researchers have also raised concerns about students’ concentration, reading comprehension and reliance on digital devices in the classroom.

Under the revised approach, Swedish preschools are no longer required to use digital learning tools, with greater emphasis placed on physical books, reading and handwriting.

The government has also planned a nationwide mobile phone ban in schools as part of its efforts to create more focused learning environments.

Sweden had previously been among the countries embracing digital technology in education, with laptops and tablets becoming common in classrooms and even preschools.

However, the latest changes reflect a growing emphasis on balancing digital skills with traditional teaching methods, particularly during children’s early years of education.

The policy does not mean Sweden is abandoning technology in education. Instead, it seeks to reduce unnecessary screen use and give greater priority to foundational skills such as reading, writing and concentration.