Should schools ditch screens?

Should schools ditch screens?

From What in the World by BBC World Service

April 30, 2026 · 9 min

About this episode

The episode discusses whether schools should eliminate screens in favor of traditional learning methods, featuring insights from journalist Maddy Savage and students worldwide.

After literacy levels started to fall in Sweden, the country’s government is cutting down on tablets and laptops…and bringing back good old pens and paper. Not everyone thinks this is the right approach though. Some tech bosses say limiting technology in classrooms will leave pupils less prepared for an increasingly digital world - and make it harder for them to find jobs in the age of AI. So - should more schools around the world follow suit and move away from screens? In this episode, we unpack this education strategy and the research behind it with journalist Maddy Savage, who’s based in Stockholm. And we also hear from students across the globe, to get their take on whether going (more) analogue improves how we learn. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Chelsea Coates Video producer: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

People in this episode

Host: Hannah Gelbart

Guest: Maddy Savage

Topics covered

  • education
  • technology
  • literacy
  • digital world
  • analogue learning

Keywords

  • schools
  • screens
  • education strategy
  • literacy levels
  • technology in classrooms
  • AI jobs
  • analogue learning

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC World Service

Places: Sweden, Stockholm

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