Mobile phone ban in schools: This is how learning in the Netherlands changes

Mobile phone ban in schools: This is how learning in the Netherlands changes

In the Netherlands, a nationwide ban on cell phones was introduced in schools on Monday. This step marks a significant change in everyday school life and aims to promote the concentration of the students during class. Before that, a mobile phone ban has been in secondary schools since the beginning of the year, but now the new set of rules is also moving into primary schools.

The Dutch Ministry of Culture in the Hague has justified the introduction of the ban on the fact that cell phones disrupt the learners' attention and their ability to concentrate negatively, which in turn reduces their learning success. This decision reflects a growing awareness of the potential dangers of smartphones in the field of education.

loosening and exceptions to the ban

Despite the ban, the use of mobile phones in the classrooms is not completely prohibited. Mobile phones may also be used if your use is required for lessons, such as learning media literacy. In addition, pupils who are dependent on a cell phone for medical reasons or due to a disability can also use it. The responsible schools are able to design the specific regulations for the implementation of the on -site ban.

An interesting observation concerns the pause times: at schools in which cell phones are also prohibited during breaks, an improved atmosphere is shown. Researchers at the Radboud University in Nijmegen, such as Loes Pouwels, report that social interactions are increasing and the students talk more again. These positive effects make the mobile phone ban not only a question of concentration, but also a factor for social interactions within school.

The discussion about a mobile phone ban is not new and has been intensively conducted in the Netherlands in the past few months. Various Minister of Culture initially expressed concerns about a nationwide regulation and instead pleaded for individual solutions in the individual schools. On the other hand, many parents, especially for primary school children, demanded more strict handling to counteract the addiction potential of social media.

Development in the Netherlands follows a growing trend in other countries. Examples such as Greece and Italy show that cell phones were also banished there in classrooms. Similar measures are currently being discussed in Germany. In a recent study, the OECD recommended that you have a responsible handling of smartphones in education, which underlines the growing concern about the effect of technology on learning.