Norway is implementing a near-ban on generative AI tools for elementary school pupils and restricting their use for older children, aiming to prevent negative impacts on learning. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere announced the new standards, which will be imposed from the school year beginning in late August.
Stoere emphasized that the most important aspects of schooling are for children to learn to read, write, and do mathematics. The policy dictates that pupils from first through seventh grade, aged 6 to 13, should generally not use AI. Students in lower secondary school, aged 14 to 16, may cautiously adopt AI tools under teacher supervision. For upper secondary education (ages 17 to 19), students will be taught how to use AI appropriately to prepare them for further education and work.
This move follows Norway's earlier decision in 2024 to ban smartphones from schools amid a decline in education test scores. In a related statement, the government also indicated plans to propose legislation to fund the increased use of books in classrooms, reversing a trend towards reliance on computer tablets. Earlier in April, the Norwegian government announced plans to ban children from using social media until they turn 16.
