Norway has announced an almost complete ban on the use of generative AI tools for schoolchildren. This new regulation will be effective from the next school year. It is part of a broader policy to combat the decline in academic results and screen addiction.
Why such a restriction on AI?
The Norwegian Prime Minister justified the decision by the need to protect crucial stages of learning. ” The most important thing in school is that our children learn to read, write and do mathematics. “
The use of AI increases the risk that young students bypass this fundamental knowledgewhich then compromises the development of their cognitive and social skills.
The measure concerns students aged 6 to 13. For those aged 14 to 16, the use of generative AI will be possible but strictly supervised by teachers, while students aged 17 to 19 will learn to use it appropriately with a view to their higher education and their future professional life.
More books in Norwegian classrooms
The country had already banned smartphones from schools, a measure which would have borne fruit according to several studies. The results include an increase in grades, a reduction in bullying and a notable drop in consultations for psychological problems, particularly among girls.
Along the same lines, the government plans to propose a law to ban social networks to under-16s. It also intends to finance more physical books to reverse the all-digital trend, which has coincided with a decline in reading levels in the country.
