We Were So Wrong: Sweden Blames Screens for Declining Student Performance
As classrooms worldwide embrace digital learning, Sweden is taking a bold step in the opposite direction.
For over a decade, Swedish schools have integrated laptops and tablets into everyday education. From interactive quizzes to real-time communication via platforms like Pronote, the benefits were clear.
However, there were also downsides: increased distractions, reduced focus, and lower academic retention, especially among younger students.
Now, Sweden’s government is reversing course.
Citing a decline in educational performance and concerns about students’ overreliance on screens, the Ministry of Education is launching a major initiative to reintroduce printed textbooks in every subject.
With €60 million allocated last year and another €44 million planned through 2025, the goal is to help students regain focus, deepen critical thinking, and reduce screen fatigue.
Minister of Education Lotta Edholm noted that despite strong reading scores, overall academic standards are slipping, a trend she links to excessive digital use.
Sweden’s move reflects a growing global reconsideration of how technology fits into the classroom. While digital tools offer many benefits, countries like France and others in Europe are also grappling with screen-related challenges.
