Norway to restrict generative AI use in schools for younger pupils

Norway will impose a near ban on the use of generative AI tools by elementary school pupils, according to Reuters.

The new rules will apply from the start of the next school year in late August. Pupils from first to seventh grade, usually aged 6 to 13, should generally not use AI tools in school.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said young children need to focus on basic learning, including reading, writing, and mathematics. The government argues that AI tools could allow pupils to skip important learning steps.

For lower secondary pupils, aged 14 to 16, AI use will be allowed more cautiously and under teacher supervision. In upper secondary education, for students aged 17 to 19, the government wants pupils to learn how to use AI appropriately for further education and work.

The decision comes after concerns about declining education test scores in Norway. In 2024, the government banned smartphones from schools and gave teachers more authority to maintain discipline in classrooms.

Norway has used computers in schools since the 1990s and tablets more widely since the 2010s. The new approach marks a partial shift away from heavy reliance on digital devices in education.

The government also said it will propose legislation to fund more printed books in classrooms. This would reverse part of the move towards tablets and digital materials.

Norway has also announced plans to ban children from using social media until the age of 16.