After mostly being sidelined, physical books are now being reintroduced into classrooms, and students are learning to write the old-fashioned way: by hand, with a pencil or pen, on sheets of paper.
The Swedish government also plans to make schools cellphone-free throughout the country.
Last year alone, the education ministry allocated $83 million to purchase textbooks and teachers’ guides.
In a country with about 11 million people, the aim is for every student to have a physical textbook for each subject.
The government also put $54 million towards the purchase of fiction and non-fiction books for students.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Nordic country’s efforts have sparked a debate on the role of digital technology in education, one that extends well beyond the country’s borders.
US parents in districts that have adopted digital technology to a great extent may be wondering if educators will reverse course, too. »
