Norway is introducing a near-total ban on the use of generative AI tools for elementary school students and restricting their application in education for older children. The government's decision, announced on June 19, 2026, aims to prevent a negative impact on fundamental skills such as reading and writing amid a decline in education test scores.
For students aged 6 to 13, generative AI will be almost entirely prohibited to protect foundational learning. Older students will be permitted to use AI tools, but only cautiously and under teacher supervision, while those in upper secondary education will be taught how to use the technology appropriately. This move follows a 2024 ban on smartphones in Norwegian schools as part of a broader effort to re-focus on core educational principles.