Norway Bans AI Use in Elementary Schools, Citing Education Risks
Norway is taking one of the most restrictive national stances on AI in education, directly linking the technology to declining literacy and numeracy skills and moving to re-prioritize paper-based learning.
Reporting from 1 sources: GIGAZINE.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced a policy to generally ban generative AI use in elementary schools, effective from the new school year starting late August 2026. Children aged 6 to 13 will not be allowed to use AI, while those 14 to 16 may use it only under teacher supervision. The government also plans legislation requiring municipalities to provide paper textbooks, reversing a long-standing digital-first policy.
Prime Minister Støre announced the policy at a June 19 press conference, citing concerns that AI use by children could skip important stages in learning. He pointed to a 2026 UK survey where 66% of middle school teachers reported that voice recognition technology had reduced students' need to learn spelling, and that basic skills like thinking, creativity, and conversation were declining.
The new rules take effect from late August 2026. Students aged 6 to 13 face a general ban on AI use. Those aged 14 to 16 may use generative AI tools only under teacher supervision. High school students aged 17 to 19 are expected to learn appropriate AI use for future education or employment.
Støre also said the government will legislate to require municipalities to provide paper-based teaching materials, sending a clear message that paper media should be prioritized. Norway had introduced computers in classrooms from the 1990s and tablets from 2010, but Støre said that policy had negatively affected students' literacy skills. The government previously recommended banning smartphones in classrooms from elementary to high school, and plans to submit a bill in 2026 to restrict social media use for children until January 1 of the year they turn 16.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.