In 2009, Sweden chose to replace books with computers. 15 years later, it allocates 104 million euros to reverse course

Sweden is investing €104 million to bring back printed textbooks, highlighting growing concerns over digital learning’s toll on student focus and skills. Discover how this bold move could reshape education everywhere.

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Sweden's big move: Bringing back traditional textbooks
In 2009, Sweden chose to replace books with computers. 15 years later, it allocates 104 million euros to reverse course - copyright Shutterstock

In a world where tech seems to run the show, Sweden’s education system is hitting the brakes on its all-digital approach. They’re bringing printed textbooks back into classrooms, marking a huge shift in how they think about teaching and learning. This change highlights worries about how digital tools might be affecting students’ learning and growth.

Going digital: How it all started

Back in 2009, Sweden jumped headfirst into modernizing its schools by swapping out old-school textbooks for computers and other digital gear. The idea was to get students ready for a tech-driven world. The Swedish government figured that using computers and tablets would make learning more fun and easy to access. Gradually, paper textbooks disappeared because digital versions seemed cheaper and more adaptable for the future.

The goal was crystal clear: arm students with the skills they’d need in a high-tech age. But as time went on, it became clear that this switch wasn’t without its hiccups.

What’s going wrong? The issues start piling up

Fast forward fifteen years, and Sweden is having second thoughts due to some major problems cropping up. Research shows that reading on screens (especially those with bright lights) can cause more eye strain and less focus compared to paper books. Plus, understanding what you read and remembering it takes a hit when you’re staring at screens.

One big gripe has been how distracting digital devices can be. Lots of students get sidetracked by games or surfing the web during class instead of sticking to their studies. This screen obsession also raises flags about social skills and attention spans in school settings. Parents and teachers are pretty vocal about these issues; many parents worry about their kids using computers for things other than learning.

Money talks: Investing in old-school methods

To tackle these problems, Sweden’s putting 104 million euros into bringing books back into classrooms from 2022 to 2025. That’s a hefty chunk of change aimed at making sure every student eventually gets a paper textbook for each subject. The money will also go towards campaigns helping schools switch back to traditional ways of learning.

This isn’t about ditching digital tools altogether but rather finding a sweet spot where tech supports basic learning techniques instead of taking over completely.

Rethinking the game plan: Learning lessons

Swedish officials have noticed a drop in key skills like reading and writing among students—mainly because they’ve been glued to screens since they were little kids. The government now sees this as a misstep—ditching traditional methods too quickly without thinking about long-term consequences.

Bringing back books doesn’t mean they’re throwing tech out the window; it just means they’ll use digital tools more wisely from now on. They’re still great for mixing up teaching styles or getting online resources but will be used sparingly moving forward.

Sweden’s choice highlights how important it is to find balance in education—a takeaway that’s relevant worldwide as schools everywhere try to blend technology with solid educational foundations. As this Nordic country makes its way back toward traditional methods, it’s both a warning sign and an example for others looking for harmony between innovation and tradition in education systems across the globe.

Got a reaction? Share your thoughts in the comments

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Mathias Curl, an experienced editor-in-chief, leads in-depth investigations into political and economic issues. Renowned for his analytical rigor, he manages a high-performing editorial team. His motto: delivering incisive and relevant analyses focused on what truly matters.
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80 thoughts on “In 2009, Sweden chose to replace books with computers. 15 years later, it allocates 104 million euros to reverse course”

  1. A great decision. Not only students get distracted, also your eyes become dry a very serious problem when we do digitization in education from kindergarten

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  2. India is facing the same in a little time span of 4-5 yrs of covid pandemic. Students are just forgotten to write. They are not able to reproduce answers in the answerbook during the exam, this is producing very poor result. In fact technology is a parallel tool not a substitute to print media and writing pages.

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  3. Excellent article.i liked it.
    Good move by sweden.
    I think all other countries should
    Start implementing this technique
    To save our younger generation.
    Too many bad things on the net.

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  4. The crux isn’t how- it’s what is being taught. Most education systems are merely information based – which cannot make a balanced human being.

    Anyone interested in wholesome approach may like to connect with KINKAR YOGANANDAji maharaj at +91 6290 733 919 (whatsapp)

    Reply
  5. This reminds me of our ancient tradition of learning. It used to be like manana (learn by heart), chintana (ponder over or think again and again) and manthana (churn and churn). Perhaps this is best. However, from manana to read and learn the texts may be better. It is good that old thinkings are being revived

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  6. My own experience with my children & grandchildren’ education is completely the same. All the drawbacks highlighted in this article have been identified by us in India esp in the elite schools and upper middle classes who have access to tech devices. Esp the real danger as experience shows kids use the technology/internet for purposes other than learning & education and their learning ability has been severely impacted. It’s time for Indian schools to review their own system and establish a blend of both technology & traditional methods.

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  7. Growing up and schooling with hardcopies in 70s and the 80s in the so called analog world before the advent of full blown digital world, I’m not surprised at all on this. As an avid reader,with lots of hardcopies books, I totally agree that the possibility of completely going digital won’t happen as some expected if you truly wants to learn and study seriously.

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  8. I agree. We should use text books upto Grade 8 so that reading and learning by thinking develops. Then gradually digital learning be added to suplement learning so that understanding becomes easier due to better imagination of topic. In children access to certain sites be banned
    This is a subject of great discussion among educators so as to arrive at proper optimisation

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  9. This is exactly my school of thought, the students are seriously distracted and it is affecting their performance . My opinion is that there should be combination of e_books and traditional books with strict supervision on digital usage.

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  10. It’s interesting to know how a Scandinavian country realised the traditional education is far superior than blind digitisation. Other countries have to learn from this experience.

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  11. Reading gives time to think, accumulate what is read and allow to dream to create a world of his/her own.
    Digital space does not allow that.
    Reading a paper book is one of the best way to immerse in the world of imagination.

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  12. Yes it’s true. Everything thing is available in finger tips and fail to understand that the fruit of hardwork that always yields best and sweet fruit.

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  13. Good decision ! No doubt education based on textbooks is a healthy system which makes all round development of a child and keeps away them from evil things, and also increases a better mutual understanding and communication between the teacher and the taught.There should be 75:25 share between the textbooks and computer. Computers should be wisely used especially by kids.

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  14. This is a very good idea and will help children build there thinking capabilities as well. You know when students study with computer, for every problem that will need a solution they will always run to the computer even before thinking yet in one way the other with the little brain storming, things are always simple.
    The idea is good in a way that it will also help children socialize. Most time people spend a lot of time on phones and computer related gadgets from dawn to sun set and they demand not socializing with those around them to build social capital.

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  15. This is a great step the people in the helm of affairs would be praised and appreciated for in generations to come. This is made easy in a country that is always thinking of it’s citizens and what can affect them. Unlike African countries where projects of this nature is politically motivated and not intentional. I hope other countries ,both developed and developing , will borrow a leaf from Sweden and begin an immediate review and adjustment plan before it is too late.
    On the other way round, this system that they want to embark upon is what is helping African students in reading and assimilation. We read books because we don’t have much digital advantages. Everything has been working for our good because God has not forsaken us.

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  16. Dear Sir/Madam,
    I would be grateful to be receiving these quality and thought provoking reviews.
    Thank you for your understanding.
    Regards,
    Ekuma,C Ogbuu

    Reply
  17. As better as digital technology replaced the traditional method of education, it best damaged or damned the psyche of human intelligence and intellects. Ability of note-taking plummeted as well as dose-dived capacity of memory retention.
    Reversal is timely; the timely sticth will save nine.

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  18. I remember, when i was working in a upper primary and hight school classes, the ‘Liberal’ Swedish teachers let the students generously to work on surfing pads or ipads, and at some stage, the respective teaches also obliged the students’ ‘wish’ to let them ‘work’ on their mobiles! Really! There were circumstances when the students in my classroom ‘made a decision of themselves’ with their right/privilege to work on mobiles at their ‘pace’, since the students were kept at the centre of the show and all other things were adopted or adjusted as per their (students) convenience.. I couldn’t find a way to avoid this over dependency on the mobiles.

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  19. Thankyou Sooo much for the article.
    I learned the traditional way and back to school last 8 months on digital platforms in a medical school learning endeavour. Navigation at different levels of it’s platforms for me as a adult near senior citizen age learner was a Tough Phantom task👹

    The outcome was great . I cracked the digital intercontinental exam !!

    The learning process was through that beautiful hand held book with shiny marker scrolls all over and stars at each point of important notes***

    Learning involves so many processes . Read , write, memorize, associate ,think , past emotions related to that topic , practise that learned topic , the in person teacher student / student student association , a unannounced holiday that brings prime joy on a rainy day, back home after school to a waiting home cooked lunch/ dinner , that hand held and touched book that spends time with you .sometimes the book may have some tea coffee stains by accidental spills by bedside/ sometimes that same book goes under my pillow in a fine hope and prayer that my small head imbibes the wonderful knowledge that lies therein simply automatically flows in from the book into my head in final last minute book imbibing hours during sleep times.( I still do believe in these childhood fantasies at 55 !). The time , silence and serenity of the library or that beautiful thatched roof Shantiniketan like school atmosphere where education, knowledge and process of learning involves the very existence of human and environment in learning and evolving journey.

    Where are those days ?
    Simply waiting for them whenever my Grandkids arrive 😁💕

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  20. It is sad that we as adults think that we know best and go on to jeopardize the lives and future if the next generations. Some things are already well thought of by the ancestors and put to practice. Punishments (controlled ones though) too were one of the classic methods to keep a person in the direction of focus and growth.

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  21. Yes, I agree. There is lot of difference in understanding the subject with text books on paper and on screen. Writing skills can be improved only with pen and paper mode teaching learning. The computers should aid teaching in collecting reading learning material, collaboration, communication with international community. Similarity AI will do the harm. I am in teaching learning education since last 50 years and am not against the technology but not it’s blind follower

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  22. On second thought, this is a wake up call from Sweden that I can personally confirm. I have not disposed of my printed books although they occupy space at home. Digital devices have deteriorated my eyesight and my vertigo. Not to fully junk digital devices and apps as effective support to learning and creating things efficiently. But not be totally reliant on them.

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  23. Any technology can not replace the human mind as creativity, asthetic sense, wonderful thoughts , emotions and above all empathy . children lost their innocence.we people must have to control the over dependency on the technology.

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  24. Very Nice article.I was little bit astonished to hear but the fact is this only that when you are focusing on studies , nothing is better then text books.But the world is focusing on digitization and digital concept is too much exaggerated and sometimes deviates from which you were supposed to focus .

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  25. Definitely and Postively a bold and good decision they have attempted to achieve in the reverse gear. Books are a good touch to learn and earn with a subject. Screen may fade but pages may not. One seeing on the book (not MAC) is worth tellings and feelings. Books radiate a permanent and indelible impression and expression of one’s understanding and feeling to study and imbibe. Books are like heavy weight champions but lap tops are best fit for the laps but not to be on the top. Carrying heavy load of books on the backstrap of the children to the school is the limitation of book learning and if we can devise light weight baggage everyday, the spine of children will be supine .

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  26. As a teacher in Education Dept for 33 years in Andhra Pradesh in India, I strongly believe that the observations in article are very true.
    Yes.. Paper back books are primary and digital tools are secondary

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  27. In 2009, Sweden replaced traditional textbooks with digital tools in schools. Fifteen years later, the country is investing €104 million to reintroduce paper books, acknowledging the limitations of a fully digital approach.

    For more insights on educational trends and technology, visit Update Valley

    Reply
  28. Reading an writing are essential skills for the cognitive domain of humans. Setting a time.to develop this from printed text is essential. Activities built around the skill to promote high level thinking skills is a great foward link and then for children, story time is a great foundation in building these thinking skills but most importantly building social skills. Social emotional development is best done through interaction between the readers and tye listener and the imagination interaction between the listener and the characters inthe story. All of which are short in technology and device use.

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  29. Aramco is world’s biggest oil company. I have taught in Aramco Training Center for over 15 years. About 8 years ago Aramco also moved from paper books to iPads. Now the company is facing a lot of difficulties for competence from the new graduates. The graduates from iPad generation have much lower level of knowledge and problem solving skills as compared to the graduates that were taught on the hard printed books in their hands.

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  30. It’s an interesting information. A bold but commendable step by the Swedish government. Now we also can support the move to retain book reading habit of children.

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  31. Quite interesting story. In Nigeria computer is a luxury in schools. However, students get glued to their handsets which they use for social needs. Book is a predominant source of information. With Swedish example, a balance needs to be struck between the old and the new.

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  32. Nice article. Older people using tablets etc. know that writing by hand in stead of typing serves memory and leraning much better. So in school pencils should bebused instead of keyboards.

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  33. Nice article. Older people using tablets etc. know that writing by hand in stead of typing serves memory and leraning much better. So in school pencils should be used instead of keyboards.

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  34. It is an right decision, it is also an EYE OPEN to the world/ other countries. Especially reading via books will surely help the reader to store in our mind / brain more easily than digital. At work we must use digital for near about 25 to 30 years, if start digital from schooling, during in their med of once work’ s life , they sure go through Eye problem, other ki d of mental related issues, As I studied Psychology from plus two to PG( 6 years ) I strongly feel this decision is EXCELLENT and WELCOME ONE.

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  35. It is an right decision, it is also an EYE OPEN to the world/ other countries. Especially reading via books will surely help the reader to store in our mind / brain more easily than digital. At work we must use digital for near about 25 to 30 years, if start digital from schooling, during in their med of once work’ s life , they sure go through Eye problem, other kind of mental related issues, As I studied Psychology from plus two to PG( 6 years ) I strongly feel this decision is EXCELLENT and WELCOME ONE.

    Reply
  36. Hello,
    I am an educator from the island if Mauritius.
    In our schools too students become distracted by games or other websites instead of focussing on the lessons.
    I firmly believe we should strike the right balance between innovation and traditional methods of teaching too.

    Reply
  37. This is a welcome development by the swedish government.
    British Government have been at the forefront in meaningful innovations in education globally and I wish other countries could borrow a leaf from them.
    I have some tech books and novels in my library which I will be willing to sell to the swedish government.

    My WhatsApp number is 07049779829 and my Instagram handle is Krysten _Okechukwu

    Reply
  38. Sweden’s choice highlights how important it is to find balance in education. That is a very good decision to introduce printed text books. No doubt technology is good, but we need to understand, human eyes have an evolutionary history of development over a very long period of time. They have evolved to focus on natural objects, not on screens and screens everywhere. If we try to force extended screen-time for eyes, from young age, the effect definitely will be unhealthy. No doubt, the technology has its own benefits, but it should be introduced with caution so that fundamental skills of reading, writting develop in the students from youbg age. Technology should be an aid and not a total replacement in the teaching-learning process.

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  39. Educational leaders around the world forgot about human psychology and sociology. They easily jumped to the tech bandwagon, forgetting that humans are social beings and that certain “rituals” like reading books (and face to face interactions for that matter) are ingrained in human civilization for eons. “Something new instead of something old” indeed. “Scratch the surface and it’s…” Can’t blame them if they did however. In this future we are living now, there’s always the consequential dilemma of choosing between being early and being late. The tomb of by-gone companies who were undecided can attest to this. Lessons learned.

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  40. This is actually not new news many other European countries started this process before sweden.
    As sweden is focused on economic growth and development it is rather behind in its recognition of impact on the future generations.

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  41. Reading, writing, numerancy are no doubt the engine of public speaking and emotional intelligence. Books contain indellible facts that can ve quoted and referenced. Modern digital references seem migratory and many times disappear with broken web links.

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  42. I am in Canada and in Canada I have been noticing out education system is failing our children for years. Our children need textbooks back and definitely less computers, they need to learn to read and write without the assistance of a computer. I am so happy and agree wholeheartedly with this article.

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  43. Too much of anything can never be good. Over dependence on digital can be fatal. Imagine digital outage at Heathrow for 24 hours, network outage in Newziland due to storm ( people couldn’t buy food and essentials)because they had only credit cards and no paper currency. A best approach is to go side by side.

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  44. In 2009, Sweden chose to replace books with computers. 15 years later, it allocates 104 million euros to reverse course https://indiandefencereview.com/in-2009-sweden-chose-to-replace-books-with-computers-15-years-later-it-allocates-104-million-euros-to-reverse-course/

    An interesting and a thought provoking news.

    Books- textbooks, books on philosophy and those requiring an in depth understanding of a subject – have an advantage in that
    one can add information gained from other sources, as well as doubts to be clarified ,and, much more, as notes in the margin.

    Over a period the books acquire a unique character of their own.

    I have several text books, and, many other books, with extensive notes in the margins and even slips appended, that have grown over the years.
    They are almost like a friend who is consulted to clarify doubts/ reinforce understanding of a subject.

    Some children today, those who are addicted to mobile phone, have almost given up reading books.

    Mobile or a personal computer , if a student has not developed the technique of making his own notes in a copy to put it in his own words, may not be able to grasp the many facets of the subject .

    Digital techniques are very effective in disseminating information. To digest and assimilate that information so that it is internalised, requires writing it in one’s own words and to add and to refer to it to remove doubts .
    Books provide the basic information which can be built upon using digital techniques. A combination of the two is likely to be the best solution to the understanding of a subject.
    Scholars in Sweden have come to the same conclusion.

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  45. Interesting. My country, a developing nation in the Western Pacific, needs to take heed of this news. Are there other countries also following Swedish lead?
    Can your investigative team also dig into the effects of students using AI for writing course papers including major thesis papers?

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  46. At age 87 I read books a lot and would find life empty without them. I think it is an excellent idea to reintroduce books in schools. Required reading was mandatory throughout my schooldays.

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  47. Yes, good move but with care and critical evaluation of social, economical and political considerations. Impact on environmental conditions may also influence thinking strategies.

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  48. Sweden’s got it. I’ve always thought tv or the net can’t replace print copies, and Sweden’s found strong reasons for support. Radio and tv posed the first threat, but they failed. The net can’t fare better then. To cite another reason, making references or photocopies from print copies is faster and more convenient than from the net.

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  49. Sweden has made a wise and commendable change in its education system by reverting to printed educational resources in lieu of digital ones. Yes, I totally agree that technology cannot replace the “prints” in learning. Technology is to be used as a supporting resource for learning. Education systems through out the world should consider doing what Sweden has currently done.

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    • Greetings
      I am educationist for the last 4 decades .
      Hats off to this thought and best wishes for the same .
      A great initiative, at the present Chaotic situation with education system is in a terrible state of confusion welcoming every approach existing in and around the world only to realise there is too much in the plate and stuck without a concrete goal and purpose ,and experimenting with children ,which is not progressive for their future.!
      Thank you for the initiative.

      in the around the world

      Reply
  50. The tempering of Sweden’s digital education is a good idea to normalize child’s learning behavior and growth.

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  51. I am joing club 80s Feel deeply concerned old days coming back and Must to ensure Continuity of Human life on the Mother Earth Indeed we don’t know where we were Heading to In Hindi parlour Der Aye Durust Aye Welldone Sweden And Let other nations to start following in right Direction

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  52. Not only is bringing back paper books a wise choice, learning writing also goes a long way in Training fine control. In lndia, private tutions have taken over traditional schooling by the storm. I believe the screen to be the base r[t of this, besides reduced parental control. Good learners do not need extra tutions and for those who do not pay attention, tutions will do nothing

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  53. The eye / hand coordination focus and the concentration used by the brain is an important part of growth, you have detail to pay attention to, as well as learning to self correct and edit, the ability to concentrate on learning while sharing how to do a maths problem / the human connection of working with a peer, all are life skills we need to enjoy life & work well.

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  54. Excess use of computer, especially from childhood makes many students lazy to read books and write. They become very playful with online games. They prefer relaxing indoors than running around under the sun.

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  55. Its more like a work life balance paradigm. It makes sense when the move to traditional books in a strategic way as a right mix of traditional and innovative tools of knowledge and information. It is also important how schools integrate the policy it self is a pedagogical strategy.

    Reply

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