Baku, August 13
Starting September, Russian schools will sharply reduce homework assignments — a move that has reignited a global debate: does homework still have a place in the digital age?
In the 20th century, homework was seen as a key tool to reinforce lessons learned in class. The more assignments, the better the results — or so the thinking went.
But modern research paints a different picture: excessive homework can cut into children’s sleep, heighten stress levels, and limit time for creative activities.
So why didn’t these factors seem to hold students back 20 or 30 years ago?
Education expert Irada Huseynli says students in the past had fewer distractions: “Beyond school and playing outdoors, they had no other commitments. With no robots or AI apps to turn to — only textbooks and the teacher’s knowledge — they needed a lot of assignments to master the material.”
Today’s children, she notes, can use AI-powered tools that act almost like friends, giving them a desire to learn both in and outside the classroom. In this new reality, long written assignments have lost much of their relevance.
Still, Huseynli points out, homework has benefits. It fosters responsibility and develops both written and oral communication skills. Asking parents for help can also turn into a collaborative process that strengthens family bonds.
While many countries are rethinking homework, few have scrapped it altogether. Instead, the focus has shifted from quantity to quality — and on how assignments are designed and delivered.
