Netherlands: Phone ban announced to stop school
disruptions
(1º§) Devices including mobile phones are set to be
banned from classrooms to stop them from disrupting
learning, the Dutch government has announced. The
initiative is being introduced in collaboration with schools
and is to take effect at the start of next year.
(2º§) There will be some exceptions, including for
students with medical needs or a disability, and for
classes focused on digital skills. The ban is not legally
enforceable but may become so in the future. "Even
though mobile phones are almost intertwined with our
lives, they do not belong in the classroom," said
Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf. "Students must be
able to concentrate there and be given every opportunity
to learn well. We know from scientific research that
mobile phones disrupt this."
(3º§) Various studies have found limiting children's
screen time is linked to improved cognition and
concentration. Other tech including tablets and
smartwatches are also included in the Dutch ban. The
government said it would be up to individual schools to
agree the exact rules with teachers, parents and pupils -
including whether they wanted to completely ban devices
__ schools.
(4º§) The scheme is the result of an agreement between
the ministry, schools and related organisations. It will be
reviewed at the end of the 2024/2025 school year to see
how well it had worked and whether a legal ban is
needed. The announcement follows a similar decision by
Finland last week.
(5º§) Its government announced it would change the law
to make it easier __ restrict the use of phones in schools.
Other countries, including England and France, have also
proposed banning mobile phones to improve learning.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66107027