Mobile phone ban at primary schools: Lower Saxony discusses rules!

Mobile phone ban at primary schools: Lower Saxony discusses rules!

Niedersachsen, Deutschland - On May 22, 2025, the Lower Saxony state parliament discussed a possible ban on cell phones at primary schools. Teachers report distractions through smartphones in class, which make learning difficult. Many parents also question whether elementary school students need cell phones at all. This debate is supplemented with various political demands, since the SPD and the Greens stimulate a comprehensive examination of cell phone use in schools. Minister of Culture Julia Willie Hamburg is clear about the Greens: In principle, elementary school children should not “need a cell phone” “in principle” and is in favor of an age limit of at least 14 years for the use of social media.

The state government of Lower Saxony has, however, rejected a general ban on cell phones in schools, which is a reaction to the proposal of Schleswig-Holstein's Minister of Education Karin Prien. This calls for the use of cell phones to regulate cell phone to prevent private use during class. There are currently no plans in Lower Saxony to ban smartphones in schools, not even for primary schools. Instead, the schools should independently regulate the use of cell phones through their school regulations. Some primary schools already have their own regulations that only allow cell phone use in class with the permission of a teacher.

rules for mobile phone use in schools

Minister of Culture Hamburg emphasizes the importance that legal guardians and teachers accompany the children in a sensible use of cell phone. The existing concepts for the formation of media literacy must be age -appropriate. Apart from this, schools in Lower Saxony have the opportunity to work out the relevant rules in order to control the use of smartphones.

The Ministry of School NRW, which promotes the cooperation between the schools, also supports these initiatives and advises on clear, binding rules. The aim is to guarantee age justice and to establish responsible media behavior. Elementary schools could also consider a general ban on cell phones to avoid disorders during class.

recommendations for schools

In addition, it is recommended that everyone involved - teachers, pupils, parents and school social workers - are included in the process of regular development. Aspects that should be included in these regulations include:

• mobile phone ban or limited use on the school premises, in class and during breaks
• Determination of cell phone and cell phone-free zones
• measures for regulatory violations
• communication channels with parents for emergencies

The rules developed are to be presented and discussed in teacher conferences as well as student and parent meetings before they are decided by the school conference and integrated into the school regulations.

The debate about cell phone use in schools remains exciting, while politicians, teachers and parents are looking for a reasonable way out to make digital use in the classroom responsible. Further information on this topic is at t-online.de, ndr.de and School Ministry.NRW to be found.