Norway Near-Bans AI for Ages 6-13, Restricts Older Students as Test Scores Slide
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 19
Norway Near-Bans AI for Ages 6-13, Restricts Older Students as Test Scores Slide
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 19
Summary
Late August will bring a near ban on generative AI for Norway’s first- through seventh-grade pupils, while students aged 14 to 16 may use it only cautiously under teacher supervision.
Jonas Gahr Stoere said the curbs aim to stop children skipping core learning steps as Norway grapples with broadly declining education test scores and prioritizes reading, writing and maths.
Students aged 17 to 19 will instead be taught to use AI appropriately for further study and work, marking a stricter approach for younger children than for upper secondary education.
The move extends Norway’s wider classroom reset after a 2024 smartphone ban; the government also plans more funding for books, reversing years of heavy reliance on computers and tablets.
By banning AI to protect learning, is Norway leaving its children unprepared for an AI-dominated future?
Beyond cheating, are schools ignoring the huge student data privacy risks that educational AI tools present?
Norway’s 2026 Digital Reversal: National AI Ban and Social Media Restrictions for Minors Reshape Education Policy
Overview
Norway is making a major shift in its approach to technology in education by introducing new policies that will limit digital device use and restrict social media access for minors starting August 2026. After decades of actively integrating computers and tablets into classrooms, which led to less use of physical books and handwriting, the government now plans to fund and promote traditional learning resources. This move directly counters the previous focus on digital tools, aiming to reduce screen time and re-emphasize foundational skills for students. The policy marks a deliberate reversal of Norway’s long-standing digital-first strategy in schools.