The debate on banning mobile phones in schools is gaining momentum. Vienna’s Education Councilor, Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS), is advocating for a ban on mobile phone use during lessons in primary schools. Similar regulations are already being prepared in Carinthia and Styria and now Vienna might follow suit.
Wiederkehr describes the increasing use of mobile phones and social media as an “attention killer” which hinders the concentration of students. He suggests that mobile phones be deposited in special safes during lessons and only collected upon leaving the school building.
If the ban is successful in primary schools, it could be extended to secondary schools. Other federal states are already considering similar measures. In Carinthia, a decree will soon prohibit mobile phone use in primary schools, with a regulated use planned for 10- to 14-year-olds. Styria is also working on a uniform regulation.
Currently, the decision on mobile phone use in schools lies with individual schools, as part of their autonomy. Many schools have already set limits, including during breaks.
Wiederkehr suggests that a clear, nationwide regulation be established to minimize the distraction caused by mobile phones in the school day. He proposes starting with a ban in primary schools and observing the effects before extending it to other school forms, such as secondary schools.
The goal is clear: to ensure that students are not distracted during lessons. The use of mobile phones for educational purposes, such as research or digital learning materials, would remain permitted.
In his latest statement in the daily newspaper Heute, he even called for a nationwide regulation to establish a phone ban in schools, focusing on the protection of students from the negative effects of constant social media and online content availability.
Bundesländer follow suit – but schools already have leeway
Vienna is not the first federal state to consider regulating mobile phone use in schools. Carinthia has already announced a decree to ban mobile phone use in primary schools, with a regulated use planned for 10- to 14-year-olds. Styria is working on a uniform regulation that would prohibit mobile phone use during lessons up to the 7th grade.
The decision on how to handle mobile phone use in individual schools currently lies with the school administrations, as part of their autonomy. Many schools have already set rules in their house rules or class agreements.
The recommendations of the Ministry of Education suggest that the lesson should be a “phone-free time” unless the phone is needed for specific learning purposes. Many schools have already integrated such rules into their daily routine.
Handy rules as a preventive measure for a healthy use
According to the “Safer Internet” initiative, many schools already have rules that approach a ban. Especially during breaks, the use of mobile phones is restricted to allow students to engage more with each other and develop their social skills. In an era where digital devices are increasingly present in the lives of young people, a phone ban could be a preventive measure for a healthy use of smartphones.
In Germany and other European countries, the handling of phone bans in schools varies, with differences from federal state to federal state or country to country. Here is an overview:
Germany
In Germany, the decision on mobile phone use in schools usually lies with the schools or the federal states. Many schools have already introduced their own rules, restricting or prohibiting the use of mobile phones during lessons.
Baden-Württemberg has introduced a state-wide phone ban in schools, applying to all students, with exceptions only for school purposes. Bavaria has a similar approach, with a ban in place since years, supported by school ordinances and agreements between teachers and students. In Berlin and Brandenburg, the topic is being intensely discussed, but there are no state-wide regulations, so each school makes its own decisions. In some schools, the phone is only restricted during breaks or in lessons. North Rhine-Westphalia has a more flexible approach, with no general bans, but many schools have already introduced their own rules.
Europe
In other European countries, there are similar, but often also different, regulations:
France has introduced a nationwide phone ban in schools up to the secondary level. Students are not allowed to use their phones during lessons. In the UK, the handling of mobile phones in schools is largely left to the schools, with some schools having strict bans and others allowing phone use during breaks. In Spain, there is no nationwide regulation for a phone ban in schools, with the handling varying from region to region and school to school, with many schools restricting the use of mobile phones during lessons. Italy has a similar approach, with a ban in many schools, especially in the south and phones only allowed in exceptional cases. Sweden has a more relaxed approach, with no general ban, but many schools setting clear rules that phones can only be used for school purposes.