Pay Attention

Listen to Today's Edition:

The Netherlands will ban the use of phones, tablets, and smartwatches in classrooms starting next year, a move that the government said is aimed at decreasing distractions among students, Sky News reported.

Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf said the ban will be issued on January 1, 2024, adding that schools will manage the implementation of the restrictions themselves.

The ban is meant to limit distractions from social media, messaging, and other sites, with Dijkgraaf noting that students “need to be able to concentrate and need to be given the opportunity to study well.”

Devices will only be allowed if they are needed for the lesson, for medical reasons, or for people with disabilities.

He warned that the government will pass laws banning the devices in schools if the measure is shown to be insufficiently effective.

The move follows a similar one by the French government in 2018, which introduced a phone ban for elementary and middle school pupils in an effort to improve focus and prevent online bullying.

The United Kingdom has also considered similar restrictions, with officials saying the measures are necessary to “calm classrooms” and help pupils’ mental health.

In 2019, more than 120 British school leaders endorsed an open letter advocating for classrooms without phones.

Even so, union leaders argued against a complete prohibition, stating that it would be ineffective and could push phone usage “underground,” making it more challenging to supervise.