Norway Says AI Ain't for Education

June 20, 2026 - 00:40

Norway has decided to scale back the use of artificial intelligence and digital tools in its classrooms, signaling a major shift in its approach to education. The government recently announced that it will reduce reliance on technology, including AI-driven learning platforms, after studies showed that excessive screen time and automated tools may be hurting students' basic skills.

Officials pointed to declining reading comprehension, handwriting ability, and critical thinking among younger students. In response, the Norwegian Ministry of Education will now prioritize traditional methods like printed textbooks, paper-based exams, and teacher-led instruction. The move is a reversal of the country's earlier push to digitize schools, which had made it a global leader in classroom tech.

"We need to ask what AI is actually doing for a child's brain," one education advisor told local media. The new policy will also limit the use of chatbots and AI writing assistants in homework, as teachers worry students are outsourcing their thinking. While Norway is not banning technology outright, the message is clear: screens and algorithms are no longer seen as a shortcut to better learning. The country hopes this old-school approach will rebuild the foundational skills that many educators feel have been lost to the digital age.