Finnish Town Reverts to Books After Digital Classroom Decade

This autumn, the town of Riihimaki in Finland has reverted to using books in schools after a decade of promoting digital devices in classrooms. Concerns over the impact of screens on children's focus and mental health have driven this change, aiming to improve students' concentration and learning outcomes.

This autumn, pupils in the Finnish town of Riihimaki returned to school with backpacks full of books, marking a shift from a decade of state-supported digital classroom tools.

Finland's education system, globally renowned for its innovative approaches, previously provided laptops to students as early as age 11. However, growing concerns among parents and teachers about the adverse effects of screen time have prompted a reevaluation.

Riihimaki, a town of 30,000 residents, is leading the way by bringing back traditional teaching methods. "We didn't want school to be another place where children are only staring at screens," said English teacher Maija Kaunonen. The initiative aims to mitigate distractions and improve students' focus and overall learning experience.