Sweden, the debate over limiting technology in primary schools

2023-09-12 19:45:06, Kosova & Bota CNA

Some schools in Sweden are restricting the use of computers and other electronic devices in classrooms, as teachers fear the devices are harming students' reading and writing skills. Although Sweden has a higher educational success rate than its European neighbors, government statistics suggest a slight decline.

As the new school year begins around the world, for a Swedish school in central Stockholm this means many hours of handwriting and quiet hours of reading, something unusual for Sweden.

In 2017 Sweden adopted a strategy for the use of computers and tablets in classrooms, even in kindergartens. Nine-year-old Henrik Trolle Adams in third grade at Djurgardsskolan school believes in the importance of handwriting.

"Writing on the computer impairs the ability to write well by hand."

Even his classmate Liveon Palmer prefers to write on paper.

"I like to write more in the notebook, because I just feel better . "

Sweden has a budget set aside for technology integration in classrooms. Third graders have access to carefully monitored tablets.

"We use tablets in math class, but not for writing. I think that students under the age of 10 should not use tablets to write. Students need adequate time to learn and improve their handwriting. Calligraphy should be practiced often. Connecting the brain with the hand helps develop handwriting and even improves reading," says third-grade teacher Catarina Branelius.

During a press conference in March, Swedish Minister for Schools Lotta Edholm expressed concern about a decline in reading and comprehension skills among Swedish students.

Although education in Sweden is above the European average, the international study PIRLS highlighted a decline between 2016 and 2021. According to Minister Edholm, while other factors such as the pandemic can explain this phenomenon, computers also play a role.

In response, the Swedish government announced an investment of 60 million euros in book purchases this year. During the next two years, 80 million euros will be spent for this purpose.

Neil Selwyn, a professor in the Faculty of Education at Monash University, who has conducted research for the past 25 years on the integration of digital technology in schools, says the decision is purely political.

"It is a symbolic move on behalf of politicians and a chance for the government to show that it is doing something different from its predecessors. There are a lot of things about schools that governments can't change or touch, so putting technology in schools is a political move and removing it is a political move, too,” he says .

However, the use of technology in classrooms is increasingly being questioned around the world. In a report published this summer, UNESCO warns against the widespread use of technology in education.

The director of the school "Djurgardsskolan" Caroline Köling, says that it is unacceptable to do experiments with children and completely replace traditional methods with new technology.

"Experiments should not be done, the school should not experiment with children. It's clearly written, so we can do some things, but we can't take away the things we know work to do something we don't know what the outcome will be."

Principal Köling and her teaching staff have designed a school program that prioritizes not only education, but also provides students with unique experiences that may not be readily available at home. The school does not allow students to use technology after class while they wait for their parents to pick them up./ VOA