Sweden is bringing books back to classrooms

Technologically advanced Sweden, home to music streaming service Spotify and telecoms giant Ericsson, has one of the most digitally advanced education systems in the world. But the ban on mobile phones aims to encourage a less distracting learning environment, building on restrictions on phone use already being implemented independently by many schools in the country of more than 10 million people.

In addition to that ban, the government this year allocated 555 million Swedish kronor, or $59 million, as part of new funding for the purchase of textbooks and teacher manuals.

The return-to-books policy has been fueled by a decline in reading literacy. In the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment, the latest study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 24,3 percent of Swedish ninth-grade students did not reach a basic level of reading comprehension. That result is only slightly better than the European Union average of 26,2 percent.

Magnus Hake, an associate professor of cognitive science at Lund University in southern Sweden, said that learning with physical materials engages the sensorimotor part of a child's brain and "stimulates the whole system."

Sweden is taking steps outside of school as well: its public health agency is advising parents on how to be better role models in screen use, for example by having the same “screen-free zones” at home as their children.

At Malmö Borgarskola high school in southern Sweden, mobile phones are already banned during class. Students place their phones in a box, called a "mobile hotel", and collect them at the end of class.

“When you have a phone, there’s always something to look at,” said student Melina Salahi, 17. “This way, there are fewer distractions.”

Her classmate Vasilije Stjepanović, also 17, said that apps like games or social media are "more fun than studying," adding that students can learn better when their phones are taken away.

At the same time, every student is given a laptop. However, deputy principal Patrik Sander says students are now discouraged from using them in class unless teachers ask them to.

"Today we see that pressure moving in the opposite direction," Sander said. "We've taken a step back, realizing that writing by hand, with a pen, helps memory."

Since last summer, Swedish children under the age of two have only been allowed to use non-digital materials, such as books, while preschoolers are not required to use digital teaching aids at all. A new curriculum that will prioritize book-based learning is expected in 2028.

However, not everyone in the Nordic country supports the shift away from digital learning.

The Swedish EdTech Industry Association said in a report that 90 percent of all future jobs are expected to require digital skills. A lack of this knowledge could lead to a skills shortage among young Swedes, a lack of innovation in the public sector and even increased unemployment, the report warned.

Peter Karlson, CEO of Malmo-based startup Imvi Labs, which uses virtual reality devices to train brain-eye coordination in children and adults, said that not all screens disrupt learning and that certain software solutions are "crucial" for helping children who have learning or reading difficulties.

“With good tools, teaching can become more effective,” he said.

But at a school in Malmö, there is little concern about acquiring digital skills. One morning in May, students held textbooks and discussed Russian history as they prepared for final exams.

“Everyone uses digital devices during their free time, so I don’t think it’s something that should be taught in school,” said student Melina Salahi. “It’s not something I worry about.”

Her classmate Aslan Ozhan Kılıçasan added: “We learn much easier when we use books.”