Sweden Bans Mobile Phones in Schools, Backing $59 Million Push for Books
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 9
Sweden Bans Mobile Phones in Schools, Backing $59 Million Push for Books
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 9
Summary
Sweden will ban mobile phones in schools from the fall term, extending a broader government drive to cut classroom distractions and shift students back toward traditional learning.
555 million Swedish krona ($59 million) has been earmarked this year for textbooks and teachers’ guides after officials linked heavier screen use to weaker reading and writing skills.
24.3% of Swedish ninth graders failed to reach basic reading comprehension in the 2022 PISA study, only slightly better than the EU average of 26.2%.
Many Swedish schools already restrict phones, and some now limit laptop use unless teachers approve it; a new curriculum prioritizing book-based learning is expected in 2028.
Denmark and Finland are moving in a similar direction, though Sweden’s edtech industry warns that scaling back screens too far could leave students short of digital skills needed for 90% of future jobs.
Is Sweden's school phone ban creating a generation unprepared for a digital world?
Beyond better grades, can a nationwide phone ban actually fix the student mental health crisis?
Sweden Bans Phones, Brings Back Books: Nationwide Policy Targets Literacy Decline in 2026
Overview
Starting in Autumn 2026, Sweden will remove mobile phones from classrooms and focus on traditional learning tools like physical books and handwriting. This nationwide policy, introduced by the current right-wing government, aims to reduce distractions and improve student focus. Many Swedish schools had already set similar restrictions, reflecting a shift in educators’ attitudes toward technology. The government believes digital devices hinder learning, so schools are now encouraging more handwriting and use of physical books. This change is designed to create better learning environments and address concerns about declining literacy and the negative impact of digital distractions.